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Jamaica’s entertainment community has once again proven its power to unite the nation. The Government has confirmed that the I Love Jamaica Telethon and Virtual Concert, staged on Sunday, 23 November, has pulled in more than $65 million JMD to bolster national recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. The marathon broadcast, aired on television and streamed across social platforms, brought together nearly 30 of the island’s biggest names in reggae, dancehall, and gospel—drawing donations from Jamaicans at home, across the Diaspora, and supporters worldwide.
Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange delivered the encouraging update on Monday, revealing that $45,765,495 JMD has already been deposited into the Support Jamaica account, with a further $19,970,000 JMD in pledges expected shortly. She praised contributors from all walks of life, saying: “Thank you to the man and the woman in the street on the island and in the Diaspora, as well as members of corporate Jamaica, and the people of the world who are rallying in every way possible to support our brothers and sisters who were hardest hit by this most powerful of hurricanes.”
The minister also saluted the artistes who offered not only their performances but, in some cases, financial support. Grange noted that Jamaica remains fortunate to have “such committed, generous, patriotic, compassionate and caring people in our entertainment fraternity, including sports stars and broadcasters, who never let us down in times of crises.”
Special acknowledgement was extended to Red Stripe and Digicel, whose partnership helped transform the telethon into a moment of national solidarity. With donations still coming in, the success of the initiative signals a strong cultural and humanitarian stand from Jamaica’s creative sector—one that will play a crucial role as the country rebuilds in the months ahead.
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