Guyana hands over relief aid to hurricane-battered Jamaica

Critical relief supplies, including tarpaulins, generators and chainsaws that were gathered by the Guyana Government in collaboration with local stakeholders, have arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, and were officially handed over to authorities there to aid the ongoing recovery efforts.
The Caribbean island nation was hit by the category-five Hurricane Melissa last Tuesday, causing significant destruction to properties and infrastructure, widespread disruption of essential services, and displacement of communities across affected areas.

Jamaican Prime Minister (PM) Andrew Holness said at least 32 persons have died since the storm ravaged the country last week, causing some US$7 billion in damage.
Last Sunday, Guyana dispatched its first shipment of essential equipment and materials to aid in the immediate recovery and humanitarian response efforts in Jamaica. The items were mobilised by Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in collaboration with the local Private Sector Commission (PSC).
According to reports from Jamaica, the shipment was dispatched from the Dominican Republic and arrived at Kingston Wharves in downtown Kingston on Friday.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF), on Saturday evening, disclosed that it coordinated the handover of the humanitarian assistance on behalf of the Guyanese Government.
Relief items were transported by FARSAN to a warehouse in Kingston that served as the central handover point for the ongoing response to communities affected by Hurricane Melissa.

The handover brought together the GDF delegation, including Captain (Coast Guard) Vernon Burnett, MSM; Major Michael Andrews; and Lieutenant Dowayne Tobin. Other Guyanese representatives included Ambassador and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheila Sealey Monteith, and former Chair of the PSC Komal Singh.
They were joined by senior Jamaican officials, including Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie; representatives of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPM); FARSAN representative Dennis Valdez; and members of the Jamaica Defence Force.
Brief remarks acknowledged the cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, and defence forces in mobilising and delivering the supplies.
The speakers also highlighted the importance of timely assistance and the ongoing partnership between Guyana and Jamaica in disaster response efforts. The ceremony concluded with the signing of the official handover certificate, marking the formal transfer of the relief items to Jamaican authorities.
Immediately after the hurricane, President Dr Irfaan Ali had assured PM Holness of Guyana’s readiness to support the Caribbean nation.
Meanwhile, as part of the Guyana Government’s wider commitment to regional disaster relief and humanitarian cooperation, several teams of local experts have been deployed to Jamaica to assist with the island’s recovery efforts.
Among those deployed is a seven-member Transmission and Distribution (T&D) team from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., who will support power restoration efforts in Jamaica, where more than two-thirds of the country was left without power or phone signal after the catastrophic storm.
GPL had said that the deployment reaffirms its strong commitment to regional partnership and mutual aid within the Caribbean energy sector, especially during natural disasters and emergencies.