The private sector says it has purchased millions of dollars’ worth of food and toiletries, and taken other steps to provide relief support to vulnerable survivors in western Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
In a statement today, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (JMEA), and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) said they have joined forces to render aid.
The groups said a private sector response centre has been established to coordinate donations and logistics, serving as a vital bridge between international aid agencies, the Government and affected communities.
The centre is receiving, sorting, and transporting relief supplies, while matching private sector resources with the urgent needs identified through official channels.
Importantly, the private sector said it has been integrated into the Government’s core procurement and relief coordination structure.
The associations noted that they are working directly with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) as part of the national procurement team to identify, secure, and mobilize suppliers of priority relief goods.
So far, through corporate sponsorship and coordination with member companies, the private sector has purchased millions of dollars’ worth of food and toiletries, which have been fed directly into the Ministry of Labour’s relief distribution programme to support families in the hardest-hit communities.
In addition, the groups have facilitated millions more in donated items, including 5-gallon water containers, bleach, and food supplies, for direct deployment through the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) into affected zones.
The groups said in these first 30 days, their priority is to get life-saving essential food, clean water, medical supplies, and hygiene products into the hands of affected families as quickly as possible.
They noted that relief operations across western parishes are ongoing, reaching communities mile by mile, and family by family.
Beyond relief supplies, the private sector has mobilized wide-ranging practical and operational support, including donations of trucks, forklifts, and warehousing to strengthen logistics and ensure the steady flow of relief items to remote communities.
Additionally there have been monetary contributions for the purchase of bulk supplies and provision of generators and water tanks to re-establish access to essential services in areas where infrastructure has collapsed.
The sector has also deployment of volunteers, engineers, and technical response teams to support clean-up, repairs, and community rehabilitation.
The group said support has also been provided to restore telecommunication connectivity, including the deployment of starlink satellite systems in communities where networks remain down.
The sector said the united effort reflects its unwavering commitment to recovery and resilience.
