Kamla takes lead in Melissa relief effort

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, visits the Plipdeco Warehouse Complex at Point Lisas Industrial Estate, where she oversaw the packing and preparation of the first shipment of humanitarian relief supplies from Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. - Photo courtesy UNC

PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar has taken the lead in Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to provide relief to hurricane stricken Jamaica on day one of its recovery from Hurricane Melissa.

A social media post on the UNC’s official social media pages said Persad-Bissessar visited the Plipdeco Warehouse Complex at Point Lisas Industrial Estate to oversee the packing and preparation of the first shipment of humanitarian relief supplies from TT.

The visit, the post said, included a tour of the warehouse and a stop at Berth #5 where she observed the loading of containers onto the MV Seaboard Ranger.

The first shipment had critical non-perishable foods such as rice, flour, sugar, canned goods, milk, baby formula, bottled water, medical and hygiene kits, generators, tarpaulins, cots, blankets and power tools for recovery and relief work.

The items were identified in coordination with the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

With the permission of the supermarket owner, a resident helps himself to supplies and food in Black River, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa on October 30. - AP Photo

In the post the Prime Minister took note of TT’s long-standing practice of assisting regional neighbours in times of crisis. Recalling that she studied and spent 14 years living in Jamaica working with her husband she said Jamaica would always hold a special place in her heart.

“Jamaica became a part of who I am… the resilience and passion of its people helped shape my ideals of service and empathy. Jamaica is and always will be my second home.”

“When hardship strikes within our region TT responds not out of obligation but out of compassion and solidarity. Extending a hand of help to our neighbours has always reflected who we are as a people – generous in heart, steadfast in friendship and united by shared humanity.”

She said additional shipments and technical support may follow in the coming weeks.

Persad-Bissessar said when the hurricane warning for Jamaica was first issued over the weekend she convened an Inter-Ministerial Emergency Response Team to ensure a coordinated national effort which included the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, the Ministry of the People and Social Development, Works and Infrastructure, Public Utilities, Transport, Local Government, and office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), supported by the TT Defence Force.

Persad-Bissessar, in the post, thanked the TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) for its assistance in the coordination of relief efforts.

Ameen calls for help for Jamaica

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Khadijah Ameen called on the public to lend assistance to Jamaica.

Ameen said the government has set up several collection points for the public, non-governmental organisations and civil organisations to drop off relief items.

An aerial view of Black River, Jamaica, on October 30. - AP Photo

She said interested people can drop off their supplies at any of the 14 municipal corporations in TT.

“We have provided a list of the offices of the municipal corporations to make it easier for people to contribute. In some of the corporations, councillors have indicated that they will also use their offices as collection points and take the items to the regional corporation. These items will then be packaged and shipped to Jamaica.”

She added that the disaster management unit of the ministry has provided a list of items needed, but she asked that the public not donate used clothing.

Ameen also thanked corporate bodies in TT who have pooled their resources to donate to Jamaica. She added that TT businesses that already operate in Jamaica and have goods either on the way to the island or already on the island, have also contributed to the relief effort.

She added that a First Citizens Bank account was set up for people interested in making cash donations.

“The TTMA has indicated a willingness to facilitate getting items at below cost. They also have an account that they indicated that they also have more than $100,000 available to buy supplies.

Residents gather amid debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa on a street in Black River, Jamaica, on October 30. -

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sean Sobers also said the United States Southern Command (Southcom), the arm of the US military now responsible for carrying out president Donald Trump's offensive against narco trafficking in the region, has been identified as one of the entities helping Trinidad and Tobago send relief to Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

“If I’m not mistaken we’ve also liaised with some aspects of Southcom so that they will provide us with some assistance to move personnel to Jamaica as well as heavy equipment such as generators and water tanks.”

Jamaica: day one of recovery

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28. While the storm has passed and the meteorological service of Jamaica has discontinued the Tropical Storm warning for the island a flash flood watch has remained in effect for several of the parishes.

Parishes such as St James, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland were greatly affected as images of water damage, fallen trees, mud and debris were seen on social media posts coming out of Jamaica.

Residents crowd around a closed supermarket asking for supplies in Black River, Jamaica, on October 30. - AP Photo

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, during an assessment of damage to the island after the storm, visited the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, was told that it sustained damage to sections of the terminal building and perimeter fencing, but the airfield and the runway remain intact.

“This is welcome news for Jamaicans who need to return home and for visitors who were displaced by the storm,” Holness said in a post on X.

He said the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston has already been reopened and is fully operational.

“The residents here have suffered significant damage including severe flooding,” Holness said in a post regarding his visit to St James. “Despite the difficulties, the Jamaican spirit shines through as a strong reminder that we are a resilient nation with the capacity to triumph over adversity.”