Jamaica gifted with GEM amid Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts

Days before Hurricane Melissa devastated the south-western parishes of Jamaica, the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) had already begun preparing to send disaster-relief supplies to the island in the event the weather system made landfall.

Hundreds of volunteers were busy at GEM’s Florida warehouse sorting and packing essential relief items for shipment.

So when Hurricane Melissa eventually made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, GEM was among the first organisations to send relief supplies to the country for distribution to the parishes hardest hit by the storm.

Within the first week after Melissa struck Jamaica, GEM had sent more than one million pounds of emergency supplies to the island, reaching communities in the worst-affected areas.

According to data shared with The Gleaner by Deika Morrison, executive director of GEM Caribbean, which is headquartered in Jamaica, the organisation has, so far, sent approximately four million pounds of relief supplies to aid the recovery and reconstruction process, valued at just over US$14 million.

Information on the organisation’s website indicates that 25 cargo planes carrying relief goods landed in Jamaica, while 67 containers of aid were delivered. Seven cruise ships also transported relief supplies to the island through GEM’s efforts. In total, just under 3,000 pallets of aid were distributed.

However, GEM’s presence in Jamaica was not by chance.

Its involvement began shortly after Hurricane Beryl struck the island in 2024 when Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami, Oliver Mair, reached out to the organisation for assistance.

GEM responded by sending essential supplies to support the island’s recovery following Beryl. During their time on the ground, discussions were held among GEM’s founder, Michael Capponi, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and the Government of Jamaica. These discussions resulted in a memorandum of understanding that allowed GEM to become an affiliate organisation working with the ODPEM.

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

Arising from this agreement, GEM Caribbean was established and is now headquartered in Kingston. The organisation has also entered into partnerships with several foundations in Jamaica, including the NCB Foundation, the National Bakery Foundation, and the Marley Family Foundation, among others.

GEM and the Government have since developed what has been described as a “smart partnership model”.

Morrison explained that GEM maintains warehouse space in Jamaica where disaster-relief supplies are stored for immediate use locally or to assist other Caribbean countries during emergencies.

“We keep the warehouse stocked with essential supplies that we can roll out at a moment’s notice in a time of disaster,” Morrison said.

Mair noted that more than 3,000 volunteers in the Florida area assisted in sorting, packing, and loading containers for shipment to Jamaica.

Morrison told The Gleaner that GEM was able to rapidly scale up its efforts after Melissa struck because the organisation had already prepared in advance.

“The day after the hurricane hit, we were able to send in a planeload of relief supplies,” she said.

She explained that several additional plane loads followed, along with shipments of containers carrying more supplies.

“Royal Caribbean cruise line also brought in cargo for us to assist in the Melissa relief efforts,” she added.

INITIAL FOCUS

GEM’s initial outreach focused on providing immediate relief to affected parishes by delivering supplies such as generators, tarpaulins, medical items, food, and clothing.

Morrison said the organisation has now shifted its focus from recovery to reconstruction, mirroring a recent announcement by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness that the Government is also transitioning to rebuilding efforts.

“To this end, we have assisted in restoring about 20 health centres in the affected parishes,” she said. “This includes providing industrial-strength tarpaulin for roofing at these facilities.”

Schools, churches, and community centres have also benefited from these restoration efforts.

Morrison said GEM has also assisted with repairing the roofs of several homes damaged by the hurricane. In this effort, the organisation partnered with Chin Construction to carry out the repairs.

Additionally, GEM has provided solar street lights to communities in the affected parishes.

“We have installed 172 of these lights in various communities,” she said, noting that another 100 are to be installed next week.

Describing them as walking solar street lights, Morrison explained that they have been installed in communities such as Roaring River, Darliston, Seaford Town, Catadupa, Bethel Town, Maggotty, and Merrywood, among others.

“The feedback we have received for these solar street lights has been overwhelming as the residents love them,” she said.

The lighting initiative, known as ‘Light Up the West’, is being carried out in collaboration with Caribbean Strong, which is headed by Jamaican Miami-based attorney Marlon Hill.

The solar lights can be mounted on either buildings or poles.

Morrison said the programme is closely coordinated with the Jamaica Public Service Company.

She also revealed that additional solar street lights have been ordered and will soon be brought into the country to assist more communities.

editorial@gleanerjm.com