Following the destructive effects of Hurricane Melissa, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations have sent aid and committed financial resources to support Jamaica’s emergency response and rebuilding process. According to a CARICOM release, regional agencies, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), and the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), are spearheading the unified regional effort.
On November 2, Sunday, Jamaica’s Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced that he had held discussions with “regional partners…to enhance coordination around Jamaica’s recovery.” He added that the talks “centered on mobilizing regional assistance, reconstructing resilient infrastructure, and protecting public health.”
The CDEMA Coordinating Unit is responsible for managing the overall regional response, as outlined in the release.. CDEMA’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Riley, expressed satisfaction with the agency’s current efforts. So far, meetings have been held with the Caribbean Development Partners group, which serves as a coordination platform involving United Nations entities, private sector representatives, civil society, and member states.
A team from CDEMA’s Rapid Needs Assessment (RNAT), composed of specialists from regional and international organizations—including UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and PAHO—is in Jamaica conducting multi-sector evaluations. These assessments will guide the government’s response and recovery strategies, covering sectors such as agriculture, coastal and marine environments, education, emergency shelter, fisheries, health, housing, infrastructure, social protection, tourism, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The Caribbean Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), which includes military, police, and firefighting personnel from across the region, remains on standby for potential deployment to aid civil authorities. Likewise, CARICOM reported that the Caribbean Operational Support Team (COST) is ready to assist with ongoing response and recovery efforts.
CDB President Daniel Best assured Jamaica of the bank’s full backing as the country begins recovery from extensive damage. Upon arriving in Kingston on Friday, he emphasized the importance of regional unity: “The CDB’s mission is to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jamaicans in their hour of need,” he stated, highlighting that his visit focused on partnership.
He also highlighted that CARICOM and development partners are coordinating their recovery efforts strategically.“It is important for us to coordinate and determine what resources we have so that we can present the [Government of Jamaica] with what is essentially a unified front so they can make informed decisions,” Mr Best stated. He also underscored the importance of psychosocial support for Jamaican citizens and first responders, describing the effort as “a fully integrated post-disaster response.”
Other key regional institutions, including the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), The University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), are also participating in the recovery initiatives to ensure a thorough and effective response.
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