Jamaica Thanks Hemispheric Partners for Post-Hurricane Melissa Support

Jamaica is grateful for the outpouring of solidarity and assistance from Organization of American States (OAS) member countries in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, says Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson.

The Ambassador, who is the country’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, conveyed appreciation on the country’s behalf, during the recent sitting of the OAS Permanent Council at the organisation’s headquarters in Washington DC.

“We are grateful to the OAS and to Secretary General Albert Ramdin for his support, and to our OAS brothers and sisters,” he said.

He recognised the contribution of Barbados, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, among others.

He noted that El Salvador has provided a fully self-sustaining team, while the United States (US) Government rapidly deployed search-and-rescue teams, a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), supplies and much needed helicopter support to reach inaccessible communities.

He also thanked regional entities, such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Public Health Authority (CARPHA) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), for their immediate outreach.

Ambassador Anderson said there has been significant damage to critical infrastructure, including five hospitals, schools, community facilities, utility and communication networks, and thousands of homes have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.

He noted that the agriculture industry, a vital pillar of Jamaica’s economy and crucial sector for the country’s food security, has suffered extensive losses.

Ambassador Anderson assured the OAS member state representatives that the Government of Jamaica, through its mobilised disaster response mechanisms and with the support of the international community, will continue to bring relief and restoration to all affected communities.

He underscored the existential threat posed by natural disasters to small island developing states such as Jamaica and called for collective action among hemispheric partners.

“This is also a stark reminder that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are escalating beyond historical norms. It is, therefore, imperative that as a hemisphere we strengthen our collective action on disaster response and resilience and appropriate reconstruction methodologies,” he said.

In extending condolences to the families and communities who have lost loved ones or suffered damage in Jamaica, Ambassador Anderson also acknowledged the wider impact that the hurricane has had on other countries such as The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Haiti.

Secretary General Ramdin, along with representatives from several countries expressed their solidarity and pledged support to Jamaica’s recovery efforts.