Guyanese stakeholders mobilising support after Hurricane Melissa batters C’bean

…as Pres Ali reassures PM Holness of Guyana’s support

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.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is performing the functions of President, convened a high-level meeting with representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and the CDC to coordinate 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 and the stewardship of the Prime Minister.
During the engagement, Phillips was joined by the Director General of the CDC, Colonel Nazrul Hussain, and the Chair of the PSC, Gerald Gouveia Jr, as well as representatives from the GDF and the wider private sector.
According to the acting President, Guyana stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Jamaica during this challenging time. He also reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to regional cooperation and collective resilience within CARICOM.
He told the Guyana Times after the stakeholder engagement on Wednesday that Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has put out a document outlining the immediate needs of the country.
According to the Guyanese official, it is based on that list, which is being regularly updated by Jamaica based on their priority needs, that the local stakeholders are mobilising relief. He added too that Guyana is also working with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) on relief support to the island.
“So, a number of things are happening in terms of coordinating assistance to Jamaica… We want to arrive at the requirements based on the identification of needs by the Jamaican Emergency Management Agency, and that would guide us to whatever interventions [are needed]. But we are ready to assist,” Phillips told the Guyana Times on Wednesday evening.
Noting that it was too early to ascertain whether there would be a request for manpower to assist Jamaica in the aftermath of the hurricane, the acting President added, “Guyana is a participating nation of CDEMA, and they will be contributing in terms of relief supplies and other forms of assistance as they see fit in terms of working with the Jamaican Government and their Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management agency.”

President Ali reassures PM Holness of Guyana’s support
In the face of the devastation, President Dr Irfaan Ali has continued to assure Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Guyana’s readiness to offer support.
In a social media post in the wee hours of Wednesday, the Guyanese Head of State said, “This evening, I spoke with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and reaffirmed Guyana’s full readiness to support the Government and people of Jamaica as they confront the impacts of Hurricane Melissa.”
President Ali, who is currently overseas on Government business, noted that he also reassured the Jamaican leader that “…the Government and people of Guyana stand in solidarity with Jamaica and that our love, prayers, and every form of support remain with them during this difficult time.”
Since Sunday, the Guyana Government has pledged its support for the Caribbean island nation.
In fact, it was revealed earlier this week that Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is mobilised and in contact with other regional partners to coordinate any potential support efforts.
The CDC said it is vigilant and is prepared to assist as needed, whether through technical, logistical, or relief supplies to aid in response and recovery efforts on the ground.

Guyanese in Jamaica
Meanwhile, the Guyana Government, through its Embassy and Consular Missions, has also been actively evaluating the situation regarding Guyanese living and studying in Jamaica to ensure their safety. It was noted earlier this week that provisions for relief supplies were being made as well as repatriation support, if needed.
However, PM Phillips confirmed that no such request for repatriation was made by any Guyanese on the island. He said the Government is in constant contact with officials from the Guyana Consul and has not gotten any reports of any harm to Guyanese nations on the island.
“We haven’t heard about any special needs or any injuries to any Guyanese [or Guyanese] student in Jamaica… Now, we are in the aftermath, and if there are any specific needs that they identify…then we will have to make a decision,” he stated.
Meanwhile, following the stakeholder’s engagement on Wednesday, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has invited the public and private sectors to join in providing much-needed relief and support to the hurricane-battered nation.
“Every contribution counts and can make a real difference in rebuilding lives and communities,” the PSC said.
On Wednesday, more than two-thirds of Jamaica was left without power or phone signal, and many areas in the western part of the country are under water, while homes and other buildings, including infrastructure, have been severely damaged by strong winds.
Prime Minister Holness on Wednesday afternoon toured parts of the country to survey the extent of the damage.
In his latest update, the Jamaican leader said he concluded a tour of St Elizabeth, one of the badly affected areas, where, he said, “The devastation is truly heart-breaking, yet the spirit of the people remains unbroken. The strength, resilience and determination of the people of St Elizabeth are already shining through as they focus on recovery.”
Moreover, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, has confirmed that four persons died in the St Elizabeth area.
“I am saddened to announce that four persons – three men and one woman – have been confirmed dead by the police in St Elizabeth… They were discovered after being washed up by the floodwaters generated by the hurricane,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
After battering Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa left the island and made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday morning 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 is expected to bring heavy rains and flooding. Additionally, Hurricane Melissa caused deadly flooding in parts of Haiti, with at least 20 deaths reported.