KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica stands ready to assist Dominica after Hurricane Maria, as a category 5 storm devastated the island late last night into early this morning.

Holness, who was on a morning programme with Nation Wide 90 FM, said that he has not been able to get through to Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit but has made contact with other prime ministers in the eastern Caribbean.

 “Jamaica stands ready and the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF), in particular, Officer of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and members of our private sector will individually and collectively assist,” stated Holness, however pointing out that the assistance will be limited.

He explained that Jamaica currently does not own an aircraft that could be mobilised to provide assistance immediately like counterpart Trinidad and Tobago.

“…so we have to work with our partners in the region to provide assistance,” said Holness.

At the same time he said it’s a part of his duty to citizens of Jamaica  to assist wherever they are.

“It’s not a duty that we can carry out to the fullest and I want Jamaicans to appreciate that but we still try and I believe we’ve done as best as we can,” Holness noted, while also stating the business of climate change is real.

Dominica’s premier Roosevelt Skerrit said “we have lost all what money can buy and replace” in a facebook post,  as the island was being hit with winds of up to 160 miles (257 kilometres) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Hours later, a company that tracks the status of the internet around the world said most of Dominica’s internet service appears to be down with many report of difficulties reaching people on the island by telephone.