As Hurricane Melissa pounded Jamaica this week with sustained winds up to 185 miles per hour, the Virgin Islands joined the region in preparing to provide relief to the people affected by the widespread devastation left in the storm’s wake.
This evening from 7 p.m., the local efforts will gather steam when the Association of Jamaican Residents (BVI) hosts a townhall meeting at the New Testament Church of God Church Hall in Baughers Bay to discuss the VI response.
Kelton Edwards, one of many Jamaicans living in the VI, was glad to hear of such an event.
“That’s great; that’s good,” he told the Beacon on Tuesday afternoon. “I mean, lots of persons here might not be able to go home, but they’ll be able to contribute to their family or in general to the country getting back up together. … We have to do what we can to help out the country.”
Mitsy Ellis-Simpson, who was born in Jamaica and raised in the VI, agreed.
Ms. Ellis-Simpson told the Beacon yesterday that her and her husband’s family members in Jamaica are fine, though they were still without power.
“I was not here for Hurricane Irma in the BVI — I was actually on vacation — but, of course, having an understanding how it impacted the BVI and all the work that we had to do in getting everything back in order, from that experience we were able to speak to our families in Jamaica and let them know what to expect, how to prepare, etcetera,” Ms. Ellis-Simpson said. “So that helps.”
Powerful storm
Mr. Edwards and Ms. Ellis-Simpson noted that Jamaica is accustomed to experiencing power and water outages during major storms. However, a comparable hurricane has not crossed the island since Hurricane Gilbert struck in 1988 — and meteorologists say that Melissa was more powerful.
As the storm made landfall in Jamaica’s southwestern coast on Tuesday, it caused massive flooding and widespread damage, including blown-off roofs, downed trees and landslides.
Jamaican officials had reported at least eight deaths as of Beacon press time yesterday afternoon.
The storm made landfall in Cuba yesterday morning after weakening to Category Three.
Haiti officials, meanwhile, reported that at least 25 people had died in a flood caused by the heavy rains brought by the storm — adding to at least three who had died earlier.
Here in the VI, nonprofit organisations such as the BVI Red Cross, the Lions clubs, the Rotary clubs and others are expected to support relief efforts, though as of yesterday afternoon a comprehensive response assessment had not yet been completed.
The VI government also pledged to offer support.
“The government of the Virgin Islands has been closely monitoring the situation,” Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said Monday. “I want to assure our people that we stand ready to assist in any way we can. We have been in communication with our regional partners, and as recovery needs become clearer, the Virgin Islands will do its part to offer support.”
Mr. Wheatley added that VI students studying in Jamaica had been evacuated to the Cayman Islands.
DDM response
Department of Disaster Management Director Jasen Penn told the Beacon yesterday that the DDM is working with local and regional partners to help support relief efforts in Jamaica and other areas affected by the storm.
“We have been in contact with our regional counterparts through Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency as well as other participating states, donors and so forth,” he said. “So rest assured, there’s work that is taking place in the background.”
British Caribbean News
