Jamaican Association Bermuda calls for help ahead of Melissa
The head of a community group representing Bermuda’s Jamaican population has asked the public to help with relief as Hurricane Melissa hovers over the Caribbean island for two days.
Yackeisha Weir, the President of the Jamaican Association of Bermuda, said that the local Jamaican community was ready to offer help to their home country.
She added that, as the country weathered flooding and devastating winds for days, assistance would be crucial.
Ms Weir further said: “We know the strength of the Jamaican spirit — time and time again, our people have faced great storms and each time we have risen, rebuilt and stood tall. This moment will be no different.”
Hurricane Melissa, as of last night, was a Category 4 hurricane approaching Jamaica at just under 5mph.
The storm has already impacted the Dominican Republic and Haiti and its slow speed will drag the storm over Jamaica across 48 hours.
Flooding has already impacted the island from torrential rains and the slow moving speed will spell out days of storm surges for the country.
Ms Weir said that infrastructure could be damaged by the attrition of days of heavy winds, even if the gusts themselves were not that powerful.
She added that flooding was expected to cause the most problems by saturating the ground.
Ms Weir said: “That may result in landslides and some communities may become marooned as a result of land slippages and flooding.
“The majority of Jamaica’s infrastructure is able to withstand the hurricane-force winds but the flooding we do not have control over.”
Ms Weir said that many Jamaicans in Bermuda were “anxious” about the coming storm and their loved ones’ safety.
She added: “I personally have called other members from the Jamaican community to ask ‘how is your family doing back home?’ and ‘is everybody away from those disaster zones?’
“It’s not just about protecting yourself but also seeking to offer help to the vulnerable.”
Regardless, Ms Weir said that Jamaicans were “very proactive” and she had faith that people were preparing as much as they could for the storm.
She said: “Based on what I’ve seen on the news media and communicating with my friends and relatives, they want to over-prepare.
“They’ve had other experiences with tropical storms and hurricanes. I think by now they would have had prior knowledge and experience in terms of how to prepare and respond to these cautions and advisories issued by the Government of Jamaica.”
David Burt, the Premier, has offered his support to Jamaica on behalf of the Government and the country.
He recognised that many Bermudians, including himself, had friends and family in Jamaica — evidence of the island nations’ close community ties.
Mr Burt said: “Our thoughts are with the people of Jamaica as they prepare for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which is forecast to reach Category 5 strength before making landfall as a Category 4 storm.
“Bermuda stands united with our Jamaican friends and neighbours, and we offer our steadfast support during this challenging time.”
He added: “I have reached out to Prime Minister [Andrew] Holness and expressed our thoughts and our concern and confirmed that the Government of Bermuda stands ready to offer our assistance where possible.”
Mr Burt also recognised Hurricane Melissa's potential impact on other Caribbean countries and encouraged all residents to keep them in their thoughts.
The Government will continue to watch the progress of this latest storm.
Ms Weir said that reports from loved ones in Jamaica showed that the storm was not yet in full effect, with the weather being mostly characterised by intermittent rainfall and some breeze.
She added that hurricane force winds were expected to reach Jamaica as early as this morning.
Ms Weir said that she reached out to members of the Jamaican Association of Bermuda for post-hurricane relief, with several people already offering help with help efforts and organisation.
She encouraged Bermudians to donate supplies such as canned food and medical supplies, as well as wire transfers.
She added that secondary items, such as schoolbooks for children, bed linen and light farming equipment, which the country relies heavily on, would also be helpful.
Ms Weir asked the public to liaise with the Jamaican Association Bermuda to see when they could deliver their supplies so that it may all be shipped out at the same time.
She also asked the public to be diverse in its donations so there would not be an overflow of one item.
Ms Weir said the JAB would offer more information, including directions on how to offer donations, at a later date once they had received word of the full need.
According to the Bermuda Weather Service’s 6pm forecast, Hurricane Melissa is expected to become a Category 5 hurricane by 3pm this afternoon.
It will then become a Category 4 by Tuesday and fall to a Category 1 by Thursday.
Hurricane Melissa is about 1,344 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and is travelling west before it is expected to hook around and travel north-northeast.
It is travelling with winds of about 144mph and gusts of about 173mph.
Hurricane Melissa is not considered a threat to Bermuda at this time.
You must be Registered or to post comment or to vote.
