GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, has commended Jamaica for its continued strong engagement in Community matters, even as the country navigates recovery efforts following hurricane Melissa.
Speaking at the opening of the 56th Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers on 16 December in Georgetown, Guyana, Dr Barnett told Jamaica’s minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, senator Kamina Johnson Smith, who chaired the meeting, that CARICOM continues to stand with Jamaica as it works to rebuild after the hurricane, which struck the island on 28 October with sustained winds of 185 mph.
Minister Johnson Smith, reflected on the impact of hurricane Melissa:
“Just when we were about to breathe a sigh of relief towards the end of the Hurricane Season, Jamaica felt firsthand the realities of our vulnerabilities through Melissa, the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica and the first as a Category Five.”
Minister Johnson Smith expressed relief that other countries in the region were not hit with similar force, noting that the scale of damage would have increased significantly.
“The physical damage continues to be a source of difficulty for us. We want to thank all the CARICOM countries which have supported not only in solidarity but in action, those who sent personnel, the leaders who came in person, those who sent linesmen through CARILEC assisting with electricity restoration, and the Guyana Defence Force members right now on the ground rebuilding roofs in Westmoreland. The support has been overwhelming. The goodwill has been heartwarming.”
Minister Johnson Smith said that CARICOM’s response demonstrated the collective strength and solidarity the Community strives to uphold.
“We know that in times when others had suffered similarly, we have been able to send personnel. It is therefore very meaningful to feel the cycle of generosity throughout Melissa,” Jamaica’s foreign minister stated.
She added that hurricane Melissa, which followed Hurricane Beryl, stands as a testament to the devastating impact of climate change and the continued vulnerability of the Region. In this context, she stressed the importance of prioritising resilience and all dimensions of climate action and climate justice.
Outlining the broad focus for 2026, secretary-general Barnett said that the Community will continue to advocate with one voice and build capacity to address existing and emerging challenges.
“Climate change and climate finance remain high on our agenda. So too are ongoing concerns with crime and violence, health and wellness, and the situation in Haiti. We continue to focus on the implementation of the CSME, on information and communication technology, including artificial intelligence, on food and nutrition security, on youth development and empowerment, and foreign and community relations.”
Minister Johnson Smith noted that as the global landscape evolves and new risks emerge, the Secretariat will continue to strengthen its efforts to work efficiently and align its Work Programme with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to advance economic integration.
