ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding on Saturday visited areas across north east and south west St Elizabeth to assess the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa and to hear directly from residents and key emergency personnel.

According to a People’s National Party (PNP) press release, Golding was given a courtesy flight by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing to get an aerial view of the destruction across the parish. The delegation landed at STETHS, and was met on the ground by MP Zuleika Jess (St Elizabeth North East) and Councillor Donovan Pagon (Braes Division), where they began their ground assessments.

In Elim, the Opposition leader saw extensive flooding and devastation to homes and farmlands. The Sydney Pagon STEM Academy suffered major losses to its agriculture department, with all livestock destroyed, the release stated.

Later in the morning, Golding reportedly met PNP Caretaker Miranda Wellington in Independence Park, St Elizabeth South West, for a walk-through of affected areas. He also visited key institutions, including the Black River Police Station and fire Department, where Assistant Superintendent Mark Edwards explained that their truck had been submerged up to its bonnet and is now being repaired in Kingston.

During the visit, Golding spoke with Police Commissioner Kevin Blake, Superintendent Minto, and Courtney King, Senior Programme Officer for Telecommunications at CDEMA, to discuss the ongoing challenges and recovery efforts.

“The devastation here is heartbreaking. People have lost homes, crops, and livelihoods. But I’ve also seen remarkable resilience among residents and first responders. They need immediate assistance, not promises,” said Golding

“The Government must ensure that recovery resources reach these communities quickly and equitably. This is not a time for politics; it’s a time for national unity and action,” he added.