By Kazembe Batts
On October 28th, Hurricane Melissa ravaged Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and other parts of the Caribbean. In Jamaica, the storm, which touched down on the western side of the island, caused tremendous infrastructure damage, landslides, roadblocks, and electrical blackouts. Melissa left entire communities isolated and surrounded by water. Nonetheless, since the storm made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of up to 190 mph, opportunities to assist Jamaica, a nation of 3 million people, are being realized.
Led by International Reggae Day founder Andrea Davis, Jamaica Arts Holdings (JAH)updated diasporans about conditions on the ground as the storm approached and after it had caused catastrophic damage. From the capital Kingston, where electricity remained functioning, JAH used wi-fi and WhatsApp links to inform the Jamaican diaspora of conditions. This communications system was crucial because immediately after the storm, 72% of the island lost electricity, and only 35% of cell phones worked.
Recording star Shaggy stepped up to help after getting guidance from Chat GPT regarding what to do. Commandeering a friend’s plane, he flew from Miami with loads of batteries, sanitary pads, tarpaulins, Pampers, and other supplies. According to Shaggy, “We’re very resilient people, there is a lot of love and kindness. Kingston now operates as a hub that can get food and supplies in and out; you’re feeling the community camaraderie within the Jamaican society. I love that”. Besides his own initiative, Shaggy also recommended two organizations that he believes are credible: the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), which uses an Amazon link so items purchased can quickly get to GEM, which then distributes the supplies. Seeing the impact, he also recommends the well-established multi-national charitable organization, Food for the Poor. Another verifiable organization is Helping Hands Ministry Jamaica, which is operating out of Florida.
The government of Jamaica is not sitting idly during this period of hardship. To inspire the nation, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness proclaimed, “Jamaica, we are strong and will get through this…the devastation is truly heartbreaking, yet the spirit of the people remains unbroken.” At a recent gathering in Washington, D.C., Jamaica’s new Ambassador to the United States, Antony Anderson, told a crowd of interested listeners, “We have to ensure that the supplies sent into Jamaica go into the right hands for distribution.” He then shared some steps his government has taken to facilitate assistance and donations: launched a dedicated email address where Jamaicans abroad can send inquiries and make pledges – disasterresponese@jamaqqicaarmbassy, compiled a database of reliable 501(c) 3 organizations, and another database of people with specialized skills to be ready to be deployed.
Mindful of current national politics and immigration policy, New York City Immigration Coalition Executive Director Murad Awawdeh added, “Everything from homes to local businesses has been destroyed, widespread power outages have occurred, and families are struggling to recover…currently, Jamaica is not designated for TPS…TPS has enabled our immigrant neighbors to work legally, support their families, and contribute to the local economy…we urge the administration to immediately designate TPS for Jamaica, ensuring they have legal protections, stability, dignity to continue to rebuild their lives without the fear of being ripped away from their loved ones…in contrast, deporting Jamaicans back to a country in the middle of a humanitarian crisis would be reckless and inhumane.” Many believe that TPS and American foreign policy toward the Caribbean, whether in Haiti or Jamaica, is a growing concern for humanitarians.
Artists, charity organizations, and government officials are focused. Walking down Nostrand Ave. you may stop and get some jerk chicken while hearing classic sounds of Bob Marley or the more contemporary Buju Bunton. These are signs of Jamaicans’ cultural influence in Brooklyn that many of us enjoy. Culture is important, but now is the time to help the Jamaican people and nation in their struggle for a better material quality of life and to turn Hurricane Melissa into a unifying, nation-building time of Black Solidarity.