Belize aid supports Bluefields Bay rebuilding efforts
Published:Thursday | January 22, 2026 | 12:12 AMPaul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer
The Bluefields Bay region in eastern Westmoreland comprises several districts, including Belmont, Cherry Hill, Mount Airy, Mearnville and Auldyr. It was near this area that Category-5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday, October 28 last year — a catastrophe whose story will be told for generations.
The scale of destruction means recovery will not be swift. Everyone was affected in one way or another. Yet one organisation is striving to hasten the process.
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Bluefields Bay Villas, in collaboration with community partners, regional allies, and local organisations, continues to play a pivotal role in supporting recovery efforts across Bluefields, Belmont, Mearnville, Auldyr, and surrounding communities. Despite sustaining significant damage to several of its own properties, Bluefields Bay Villas responded swiftly, placing people before profit and opening its resources to meet urgent community needs,” the Bluefields Bay Villas Foundation said.
Partnerships have delivered cooked meals to displaced and vulnerable residents; care packages with food, toiletries, clothing and bedding; free charging of electronic devices during prolonged power outages; free Wi-Fi to help residents communicate, work and access emergency services; and rebuilding materials such as roofing zinc and construction supplies. There were also Christmas treats for children in Mearnville and Auldyr, as well as home repairs and replacement assistance for staff, most of whom live in the affected communities.
Some damaged villa properties have been repaired and reopened, while others remain under reconstruction — underscoring the dual challenge of business recovery alongside community support, the Foundation noted. Much of that support has come from Belize, reflecting the strength of Caribbean solidarity.
A group of Belizeans — some of Jamaican heritage, others connected through business, faith and regional identity — mobilised to provide assistance. Their aim was not only to help but to promote self-reliance by sourcing Belizean-made products wherever possible.
The group donated container included roofing zinc, water, food, toiletries, clothing and bedding, with roofing materials and water supplied from Belize. This support has directly aided families seeking immediate shelter and rebuilding solutions, the foundation said.
Belizean contributors included Back to Bible Adventist Church, ADS Custom Brokerage, Bowen and Bowen Limited, Caribbean Sugar Refinery Limited, Fabrigas Limited, Vista Real Estate Limited, National Gas Company Belize Limited, Valley of Peace Farms Limited, RFG Insurance, Belize Tourism Board, the Dunker family, Dean Harriage, Jacqueline and Trevor Roe, Vincent and Simone Lopez, with logistical and clearance support from Hanover Charities. The donation was coordinated and facilitated by the Bluefields Bay Villas Foundation to ensure effective and transparent distribution.
“The most recent donation has attracted scores of residents over the past two days, many in urgent need of housing materials and essential supplies to begin rebuilding their lives. This surge underscores both the scale of need and the trust placed in Bluefields Bay Villas as a reliable community partner,” the foundation added.