In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica is reeling. Entire communities have been left in ruins, homes flattened, roads destroyed, and countless families displaced. From Portland to Clarendon, Kingston to St. Mary, the island carries the deep scars of one of the most devastating storms in recent memory. Yet even as the rain subsides and the floodwaters begin to recede, one truth remains clear — Jamaica’s greatest strength has always been its people. And right now, those people need help more than ever. This is a call, not to the government or to politicians, but to the sons and daughters of Jamaica who have risen to fame and fortune. To the entertainers, influencers, athletes, and public figures — both at home and abroad — the time has come to stand up for your fans. These are the same people who streamed your music day and night, who wore your brand, who shared your posts, who prayed for you when you were just starting out. Today, many of them are left without shelter, without ...
From Anguilla to Jamaica: We Know the Storm You’re Facing and the Recovery Ahead
When it was confirmed that Hurricane Melissa will make landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 monster, my heart clenched. The sound of those winds—over 185 mph—stirred memories no Anguillian can ever forget. In 2017, Hurricane Irma tore through our island with that same unrelenting force. Roofs vanished in seconds. Homes flattened like paper.
Prime Minister Hon. Andrew Holness speaks after Hurricane Melissa’s Cornage
Power lines tangled in the streets. Our hospital lost its roof, our schools and police station were damaged, and our communication with the world went dark. For weeks, we lived by candlelight, clinging to hope and to each other. Those days reshaped us forever.
Hurricane Irma hit Anguilla as a Category 5 storm on 6 September 2017, with sustained winds of 185 mph.
Now, as Melissa lashes Jamaica, Anguillians watch with heavy hearts and deep understanding. We know what it means to see your landscape transformed overnight—to wake up and not recognize your own street.
Flat bridge completely submerged in water.
We know the exhaustion of endless cleanup, the long wait for power, and the silence after the storm when all you can hear is your own heartbeat and the mosquitos singing.
Melissa’s strength, the strongest storm Jamaica has seen in over a century, will test the island’s endurance. But we also know the resilience of Caribbean people—it runs through every island, every village, every heart that refuses to break.
National Reserve called Out as Jamaica prepares for Hurricane Melissa's Impact
To our brothers and sisters in Jamaica, we say: you are not alone. We have walked this road. The road of rebuilding from rubble, of comforting children in the dark, of watching hope return one roof at a time.
The Anguilla Government has already pledged assistance to Jamaica in this time of crisis—a small gesture of solidarity from one storm-hardened island to another. Because we know that in times like these, Caribbean unity is not just a slogan—it’s survival.
And so, as the winds ease and the floodwaters recede, know that the rest of the region stands beside you. We remember Irma; we will never forget her. And we will not forget Melissa.
Image shows medical facility roof being torn off during Melissa's passing
Recovery can be long, but you will rebuild—stronger, wiser, and more united. From Anguilla to Jamaica, our message is simple: we know the storm, but we also know the sunrise that follows.
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