CTO hosts fundraiser to aid Jamaican tourism workers

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has set a target of US$100,000 to assist Jamaican tourism workers affected by Hurricane Melissa, with half of the funds also earmarked for Haiti. A fundraising event in Florida over the weekend kicked off the effort.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, guest speaker at the event, urged Caribbean tourism ministries to establish a resilience fund, stressing that the region cannot continue to rely on global aid after every disaster.

He said the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) has become a vital institution for Jamaica, the Caribbean and beyond.

“In a region where tourism is both fragile and essential, resilience cannot be a slogan; it must be a science, a system and a strategy. The GTRCMC helps destinations anticipate, withstand and recover from shocks through research, training, scenario planning, resilience barometers, early warning tools and global partnerships. It is not an academic accessory, but a practical backbone for small states facing climate uncertainty,” Bartlett said.

He noted that in the aftermath of Melissa, the centre’s role is even more urgent, helping Jamaica assess the storm’s impact, design recovery plans, protect workers and supply chains, and strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure.

Bartlett added that institutional strength alone is not enough, calling for a Caribbean Resilience Fund to accelerate rapid response, rebuild tourism infrastructure, support vulnerable communities, and provide predictable financing for recovery and adaptation.

By 2050, climate-related disasters could strip as much as US$22 billion annually from the Caribbean, according to regional projections.

“That is not just a hit to our balance sheets; it is a direct assault on our development, our social progress and our long-term stability. Establishing a Caribbean Resilience Fund – anchored in the work of the GTRCMC and aligned with national resilience strategies – is therefore not a policy option. It is a moral imperative, an act of foresight and an act of justice,” Bartlett said.

He urged the region to move “from surviving disasters to shaping resilience; from reacting to emergencies to preparing systematically; from waiting for assistance to organising our own regional instruments.”

“Let this moment be remembered as the point where the Caribbean chose to lead rather than to plead – where we recognised that our vulnerability to hurricanes must be matched by our determination to build institutions, systems and funds that secure our future,” he said.

“To the people of Jamaica and to our brothers and sisters across the Caribbean, I say this: you have lived through storms that have tested the limits of human endurance. You have buried loved ones, rebuilt homes, restarted businesses and restored communities. You have shown the world that resilience is not a theory; it is the daily decision to get up after being knocked down.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com