A week after Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, the Government has confirmed that more than 90,000 families have been directly affected, and 27 communities remain marooned across western Jamaica. Commander Alvin Gayle, director general of the ODPEM, reported that over 120,000 buildings lost their roofs, leaving thousands homeless or displaced. 

I hear the cry of every baby, says PM

Holness seeks to assure nation that efforts being made to get supplies, assistance to everyone suffering

Jamaica Gleaner/7 Nov 2025/Edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com

THE OFFICIAL number of communities marooned a week after the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa has moved up to 27 even as the Government says it has intensified its efforts to reach people desperately in need of aid.

On Monday, there were 25 inaccessible communities as reported by Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr during a press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew. However, no explanation was given yesterday for the latest count, which was provided by Commander Alvin Gayle, the newly appointed director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

During yesterday’s briefing, also at Jamaica House, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness told journalists that the administration had provided relief to many of the worst impacted Jamaicans and was now moving towards a more systematic response.

The prime minister said he was aware of the plight of those suffering and efforts were being made to provide supplies and other assistance.

“I hear the cry of every baby that is hungry in every community that is not yet reached. It goes to bed with me,” holness said.

He said the Government was focused on putting systems in place to quickly reach as many people as possible instead of focusing on one desperate case at a time.

“I have to think of it in this way: Do I try myself to jump on a helicopter with a package to reach the baby that is crying? Or do I try to develop a system to get more helicopters in, to get more packages put together, to get more supplies in, to get more support to be able to reach those babies that are crying?”

Providing an update on the situation in western Jamaica, Gayle said more than 120,000 buildings in western Jamaica had lost their roofs. He added that this has had a direct impact on about 90,000 families.

“We are acutely aware that many communities are still marooned. With the assistance of the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force), Jamaica Fire Brigade, and NWA we have successfully re-established access to some of these areas,” he said.

According to Gayle, as of yesterday, 27 communities remained marooned, primarily in St Elizabeth, St James, and Trelawny.

At the same time, Gayle reported that 184 shelters remained open, with 2,487 persons primarily from west moreland, St Elizabeth, and Hanover in the facilities.

“It is our commitment that no one will be forgotten as the ODPEM is coordinating, through the JDF and our international partners, airlift, and dedicated ground teams to deliver food, water, medical supplies to these locations,” Gayle said, adding that a massive relief operation was in full swing.

Jamaica is receiving support from the United Nations Office for Project Services to assist in coordinating relief efforts.

Commenting on the health response, Dr Christopher Tufton, portfolio minister, reported that operations had commenced at a new field hospital in St Elizabeth. Sixty health professionals from the United States are working alongside local personnel at the facility.

Tufton said a second field hospital is to be set up in Falmouth, trelawny. He said there are plans to work on a third field hospital at Cornwall Regional Hospital.

 

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