A section of Westmoreland after Hurricane Melissa’s rampage last week – one of seven parishes flagged as a major climate-risk hotspot by the J-SRAT tool. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
KINGSTON, Jamaica--The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) say they are working collaboratively to provide coordinated relief to the most vulnerable survivors in western Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The groups revealed that a Private Sector Response Centre has been established to coordinate donations and logistics, “serving as a vital bridge between international aid agencies, the Government of Jamaica and affected communities”.
The centre is actively receiving, sorting and transporting relief supplies, while matching private sector resources with the urgent needs identified through official channels.
In addition, the private sector has been integrated into the Government of Jamaica’s core procurement and relief coordination structure, the groups said.
“Our associations are working directly with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) as part of the national procurement team to identify, secure and mobilise suppliers of priority relief goods. We are also providing technical support to the MLSS procurement department to facilitate the mass purchasing of essential supplies required for sustained relief efforts,” the groups indicated in a press release Wednesday.
Through corporate sponsorship and coordination with member companies, the groups explained that the private sector has purchased millions of dollars’ worth of food and toiletries, which have been fed directly into the labour ministry’s relief distribution programme to support families in the hardest-hit communities and facilitated millions more in donated items, including five-gallon water containers, bleach and food supplies, for direct deployment through the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) into affected zones.
“In these first 30 days, our priority is clear: to get life-saving essentials – food, clean water, medical supplies, and hygiene products – into the hands of affected families as quickly as possible. Relief operations across western parishes are ongoing, reaching communities mile by mile, and family by family,” the groups said.
Beyond relief supplies, the private sector has mobilised support including the donations of trucks, forklifts and warehousing to strengthen logistics and ensure the steady flow of relief items to remote communities, and monetary contributions for the purchase of bulk supplies, generators and water tanks to re-establish access to essential services in areas where infrastructure has collapsed.
They have also deployed volunteers, engineers and technical response teams to support clean-up, repairs and community rehabilitation, and have provided support to restore telecommunication connectivity, including the deployment of Starlink satellite systems in communities where networks remain down.
Additionally, in partnership with the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS), a dedicated relief account has been established for tax-deductible cash donations, ensuring that every dollar goes directly to impacted communities.
“We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the overwhelming generosity across the private sector, whose leadership, teamwork and compassion continue to drive this national effort forward. This united effort reflects our unwavering commitment to recovery and resilience. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our government partners and our fellow Jamaicans. The road ahead will be challenging, but together, we will rebuild stronger,” the groups said. ~Jamaica Observer~
