Some Jamaican farm workers returning from Canada have lost homes

Several Jamaican workers of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) in Canada have lost their homes and businesses as a result of Hurricane Melissa, and some are still unable to reach their families.

However, Althea Riley, chief liaison officer of the Jamaica Liaison Service (Toronto), says communication between workers and their families has improved over the last few days.

“Many workers are now reporting that they have either spoken directly with their families or received updates through friends regarding the condition of their loved ones and homes.”

Approximately 800 workers were unable to return home, but on October 31 the first two flights from Pearson International Airport carried a total of 600 passengers, including eight workers from Grandma Lambe’s, a family-run apple orchard in Meaford, Ontario, where 17 workers, whose flights were cancelled in anticipation of the hurricane, remained.

On the following day, 246 workers departed from Pearson International Airport to Norman Manley International Airport, while another 130 workers flew from Halifax Airport to Kingston.

“We have repatriated over 1,500 workers since October 31, 2025, and by Friday, November 14, we would have repatriated over 2,100 workers,” said the chief liaison officer.

Riley said three workers, who were not originally scheduled to return home this month, reported being unable to contact their families and were very distressed. On Friday, they requested to go home, and they subsequently were accommodated on a flight that left on Saturday.

Last week, the owners of Grandma Lambe’s started a GoFundMe campaign to help the farmw orkers who could not return to Jamaica then.

Stephanie Lambe told The Gleaner that flights are being arranged for the remaining nine workers, and that the GoFundMe has surpassed the goal of CDN$20,000 to reach CDN$26,171, and that the fundraising campaign page would be closed. She said the money will be disbursed equally to the 17 workers – those already in Jamaica and those who will fly there soon.

LIMITED LUGGAGE

“We’re overwhelmed with the calls coming in to help. Unfortunately, the guys are limited to luggage restrictions, bringing home just necessities. We have a donation box set up in the Meaford location, Grandma Lambe’s Highway 26 Meaford, for anyone local who can help,” wrote Lambe on the GoFundMe site.

One of the workers who returned home to Trelawny on Friday sent Riley a voice note in which he said his wife, two daughters, and son were okay. However, his house and car were severely damaged and he lost his farm, but his donkey and two goats are still alive.

Expressing gratitude, he was happy to be home, despite the damage, and plans to rebuild his house.

Riley said some employers have initiated GoFundMe campaigns to raise relief funds for their workers, in addition to their own contributions.

“Additionally, some employers have volunteered their properties and secured containers to serve as drop-off centres for collecting relief items to be sent to Jamaica for the workers. They are also encouraging donations to the wider Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund through the Support Jamaica website.”

On the other hand, some employers have opted to keep the support provided to their workers and their families private.

Riley noted that a friend of the programme, ATLAS Cargo, has offered logistical support for shipping the donated items to Jamaica free of charge.

Riley said the travel service responsible for organising flights for the workers has maintained constant communication with the airlines. Workers are informed of their revised flight schedules as soon as decisions are made.

“Additionally, the JLS has circulated a list of shelters and disaster parish coordinators to help workers connect with their families and relatives back home. Workers are also provided with contact information for Knutsford Express in case they cannot make the usual pickup arrangements with their families.”

She said liaison officers and other partner support groups across Canada, such as The Neighbourhood Organisation (TNO), The Farm Worker Hub, and Ontario Agriculture Mental Health Awareness, funded by the provincial government, are available to offer support to the workers.

The TNO is a support group funded by the federal government to assist in providing support to temporary foreign workers in Canada.

The Jamaica Liaison Service anticipates that all scheduled workers will return to Jamaica by December 15, 2025, which is the official end date for the SAWP season. There are approximately 3,500 workers currently in Canada; more than 8,000 workers arrived in Canada from Jamaica this season.

Each year, the farm work season begins on January 2 and finishes on December 15.

editorial@gleanerjm.com