Press Release: Private Sector Unites to Deliver Urgent Relief to Western Jamaica

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), have united forces and are working collaboratively to provide coordinated relief to the most vulnerable survivors in western Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

A Private Sector Response Centre has been established to coordinate donations and logistics, serving as a vital bridge between international aid agencies, the Government of Jamaica, and affected communities. The Centre is actively receiving, sorting, and transporting relief supplies, while matching private sector resources with the urgent needs identified through official channels.

Importantly, the private sector has been integrated into the Government of Jamaica’s core procurement and relief coordination structure. Our associations are working directly with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) as part of the national procurement team to identify, secure, and mobilize suppliers of priority relief goods. We are also providing technical support to the MLSS procurement department to facilitate the mass purchasing of essential supplies required for sustained relief efforts.

So far, through corporate sponsorship and coordination with our member companies, the private sector has purchased Millions of dollars’ worth of food and toiletries, which have been fed directly into the Ministry of Labour’s relief distribution programme to support families in the hardest-hit communities. In addition, we have facilitated Millions more in donated items, including 5-gallon water containers, bleach, and food supplies, for direct deployment through the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) into affected zones.

In these first 30 days, our priority is clear: to get life-saving essentials—food, clean water, medical supplies, and hygiene products—into the hands of affected families as quickly as possible. Relief operations across western parishes are ongoing, reaching communities mile by mile, and family by family.

Beyond relief supplies, the private sector has mobilized wide-ranging practical and operational support, including:

Donations of trucks, forklifts, and warehousing to strengthen logistics and ensure the steady flow of relief items to remote communities.

Monetary contributions for the purchase of bulk supplies.

Provision of generators and water tanks to re-establish access to essential services in areas where infrastructure has collapsed.

Deployment of volunteers, engineers, and technical response teams to support clean-up, repairs, and community rehabilitation.

Support to restore telecommunication connectivity, including the deployment of Starlink satellite systems in communities where networks remain down.

Coordination with international aid partners to align global support with national priorities and ensure supplies reach affected communities efficiently.

In partnership with the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS), a dedicated relief account has been established for tax-deductible cash donations, ensuring that every dollar goes directly to impacted communities.

We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the overwhelming generosity across the private sector, whose leadership, teamwork, and compassion continue to drive this national effort forward.

This united effort reflects our unwavering commitment to recovery and resilience. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our government partners and our fellow Jamaicans. The road ahead will be challenging, but together, we will rebuild stronger.