BritCham Guyana partners with Maxi Priest for Jamaica hurricane relief effort

The British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham Guyana) has announced a major collaboration with internationally acclaimed reggae artist Maxi Priest to raise funds in support of hurricane relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica, following the recent devastating storm that struck the island.
The initiative forms part of BritCham Guyana’s upcoming Business Forum and Networking Event, to be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge in London.

The event will feature a dedicated fundraising segment aimed at mobilising financial and in-kind support from businesses and individuals across the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Guyana, and the wider global community.
The evening’s programme will include a live charity auction, exclusive memorabilia displays, and cultural and sporting showcases, featuring iconic trophies and exhibits designed to inspire generosity and unity among attendees. All proceeds raised will go directly toward organisations actively coordinating hurricane relief operations on the ground in Jamaica.
BritCham Guyana is calling on companies and individuals attending the event to support the cause through donations or pledges, emphasising that collective effort is crucial to help affected communities rebuild.
Chairman of BritCham Guyana, Faizal Khan said the collaboration underscores the Chamber’s commitment to solidarity and regional cooperation.
“BritCham Guyana stands with our Caribbean brothers and sisters in times of need,” Khan stated. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to community and resilience.”
Maxi Priest, known globally for his chart-topping hits and philanthropic involvement, echoed the sentiment.
“Music and unity have the power to heal and rebuild,” Priest said. “I’m honoured to lend my voice to help those affected in Jamaica.”
The BritCham Guyana Business Forum & Networking Event serves as a key platform for fostering UK-Guyana business relations, bringing together investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. This year’s edition aims not only to strengthen commercial ties but also to channel goodwill and tangible support to a neighbouring Caribbean nation in crisis.
Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica battered, with deaths, mass destruction, floods and more than two-thirds of the country without power and in shelters.
The Category 5 storm made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as the strongest hurricane in the island’s history, with most of the destruction recorded in central and western Jamaica.
After battering Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa left the island and made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday last as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
By 11:00h, the hurricane had moved off of Cuba as a Category 2 storm and was in the Atlantic Ocean heading towards the Bahamas, where it was expected to bring heavy rains and flooding. Additionally, Hurricane Melissa caused deadly flooding in parts of Haiti, with at least 20 deaths reported.
The Guyana Government through close collaboration with the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and the CDC have already coordinated Guyana’s humanitarian response to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
The initial phase of Guyana’s relief efforts will include the provision of essential supplies such as generators, tarpaulins, and chainsaws, to be mobilised through a joint initiative between the Government and the private sector, under the coordination of the CDC.
Guyana’s stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Jamaica during this challenging time reaffirms the nation’s commitment to regional cooperation and collective resilience within Caricom.