Jamaica’s ambassador in US coordinating relief efforts for island
Published:Monday | October 27, 2025 | 12:09 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Major General (ret’d) Antony Anderson is working with members of the diaspora to coordinated disaster relief effort in anticipation of the impact of Hurricane Melissa on the island.
Anderson is scheduled to host a Zoom meeting on Monday evening, at which he will outline proposals to participants on the call.
Derrick Scott, a spokesman for the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, DC, said Jamaica’s Consul General in Miami, Oliver Mair, as well as Jamaica’s honorary consuls across the US will be represented on the Zoom call.
They are expected to outline whatever efforts they are undertaking to assist Jamaica in the wake of the hurricane.
Scott said a number of meetings with members of the diaspora have already been held to discuss a coordinated approach to disaster relief efforts for Jamaica.
He also told The Gleaner that representatives from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, as well as other government officials, will take part in the meeting to update Jamaicans in the diaspora on the situation on the ground in Jamaica.
Scott said the embassy has been in constant contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on the issue.
“We need to know what are the areas of priority for the country should the hurricane strike,” he said.
A spokesman for the Jamaican Consulate in New York stated that contact has already been made with members of the community to coordinate relief efforts, should these be needed.
PARTNERSHIPS IN PLACE
He told The Gleaner that the consulate already has partnerships in place with Jamaican-owned shipping companies in the diaspora regarding the transporting of goods to Jamaica; However, no contact has been made with these companies, as the Government would need to identify any needs.
“We are also in the process of identifying drop-off locations across the five boroughs where Jamaicans would be directed to take items,” he said.
Like the embassy, the consulate in New York is also awaiting instructions from the Jamaican Government on what will be the possible needs for the country.
Over in Florida, Mair has already identified warehouse space for the storing of goods, should the need arise.
Social media posts from the consul general also indicate that the Florida community has already collected some items to be sent to Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica between Monday night and Tuesday morning as a possible Category 5 storm, having already intensified to a Category 4 hurricane.