MORE RELIEF POUR IN FROM INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
Minister of Local Government and Community Development lauded the swift action of local and international partners who have mobilized efforts to assist Jamaica in recovering from Hurricane Melisa while speaking at a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday morning (October 31).
One such partner, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), who partnered with the Government of Jamaica last year in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, will assist with food supplies and distribution as well as infrastructural repairs.
“This morning I’m please to advised the country that one of our partners GEM, this international organization came in country yesterday and they’re here, headed by Michael Capponi, is here along with his team and later on today, one of the first signs of their commitment to working with the government and the people of Jamaica is a visit to the Transitional Centre in Kingston where the homeless population is where they will be providing care package to the homeless population” he said.
“And tomorrow, we will be rolling out along with the ODPEM and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in various teams to go into Black River and Whitehouse in Westmoreland,” the Minister added.
Another partner is the is the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) who works closely with the office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), they provide disaster management support for CARICOM member countries. A team from CDEMA arrived on the island on early Friday morning to lend their support.
Hon. Desmond McKenzie also announced that several roadways, community and main roads, are cleared to accommodate vehicular access–an important step in mobilizing aid and supplies to the hurricane-stricken parishes.
“A significant effort by the National Works Agency and the Jamaica Defense Force and the other teams to make the roads accessible…efforts are being made as we speak, to ensure that we ca access Westmoreland going through Black River and that is being done because tomorrow we’re gong to take a team in Whitehouse Westmoreland to start to provide some relief supplies,” he said.
The Government of Jamaica has taken an ‘all hands on deck’ approach as they continue to recover, rebuild and restore.
