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Jamaica’s entertainment industry has come to a complete standstill, with several major festivals including the Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival and the Jamaica Food & Drink Festival officially postponed due to infrastructure damage and ongoing recovery operations in the western parts of the island.
Festival directors Jason Henzell and Gregory Wright of the Treasure Beach event said the 2025 edition “will not proceed in its current form,” stressing that “the priority is the people — our people.” Organizers are now collaborating with the BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation to support relief work through volunteer coordination and fundraising.
Similarly, the Jamaica Food & Drink Festival announced it is “pressing pause” this year to focus on recovery and rebuilding efforts across the island.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister has urged citizens to resume normal life and economic activity, even as the nation’s entertainment and cultural sectors remain on hold following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, November 4, one week after the Category 5 storm struck the island, the Prime Minister addressed growing public concern over whether industries—including the schools, entertainment, tourism, and education sectors—should remain closed.
“Those persons who are opposed to us going back to school and going back to work, get that out of your mind,” he declared. “Get the economy up and running right away. That is the only way, only way we are going to be able to fund the recovery quickly. And I urge all Jamaicans to get that mindset in.”
The Prime Minister further emphasized that national productivity is crucial to rebuilding efforts, calling on citizens in less affected regions to accelerate output.
“For the half of Jamaica that has not been affected, your productivity will have to increase right away,” he added.
Jamaica is counting a loss of over $7 billion or 30% of its 2024 GDP due to the hurricane according to Prime Minster Andrew Holness.
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