Guardian Group donates TT$100,000 to hurricane-hit Jamaican schools

Guardian Group has contributed TT$100,000 to support schools in western Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa, with the funds earmarked for repairs, learning materials, and electricity support for impacted institutions. 

The contribution, equivalent to J$2.3 million, was presented during a cheque handover ceremony on April 16 at Guardian Life Limited, Jamaica. 

The funding came from proceeds generated from SHINE 2025, Guardian Group’s charity walk and run event held in Trinidad and Tobago, which raised more than TT$780,000 for children and children’s charities across the region. 

In a release sent to Guardian Media, Group Chief Operating Officer, President of Guardian Shared Services Limited, and Chairman of the Guardian Group Foundation, Greer Quan said the initiative aimed to help schools resume normal operations following the hurricane. 

“This donation is about standing with Jamaica’s communities as they recover and rebuild. Through SHINE, we are proud to contribute J$2.3 million to support schools in restoring safe and functional learning environments. These are practical interventions that will make a meaningful difference for students and teachers,” Quan said. 

The funds are being distributed through the National Education Trust in collaboration with Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information. 

Support will go toward shared photocopying services, generators to restore the electricity supply, and minor infrastructural repairs at affected schools. 

Executive Director of the National Education Trust, Latoya Harris-Ghartey, said schools continue to face disruptions months after Hurricane Melissa. 

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, schools have faced significant disruptions to teaching and learning. This intervention directly supports priority institutions, including Frome Technical High School and others within its cluster, enabling a more rapid return to stable operations and reinforcing the system’s capacity to withstand future shocks,” Harris-Ghartey said. 

State Minister in Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Rhoda Moy Crawford, described the initiative as an example of regional collaboration supporting recovery efforts. 

“This initiative reflects a model of collaboration that strengthens recovery outcomes. It demonstrates how regional institutions can align resources to address immediate needs while supporting longer-term development objectives within the education sector,” Crawford said. 

The latest contribution follows a previous US$312,000 donation made by the Guardian Group Charitable Foundation in November 2025 to support hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts in Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.