‘
Hope For Jamaica: A Community Hurricane Relief Concert’, featuring some of Canada’s top reggae artistes, takes place on November 6 at the Jamaican Canadian Association in Toronto.

The goal is to raise funds and gather relief supplies for Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Over 30 acts are scheduled to perform, among them multiple Juno Award winner Exco Levi, roots singer Tasha T, poet/singer Jazmin Headley, and singer Tony Anthony.

The Jamaican Canadian Association, with assistance from Tony Anthony and Dr Sylvanus Thompson, are behind the charity show.

“It is fully endorsed by the heads of Jamaican missions in Canada, and the high commissioner [from Jamaica to Canada] is the patron. The objective is to raise funds to be donated to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management for Disaster Relief efforts in Jamaica,” Thompson told the Jamaica Observer.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 monster, made landfall in Jamaica on October 28 and destroyed sections of Manchester, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St James. Clarendon, Trelawny, St Ann, St Thomas, and Portland also suffered considerable damage.

Reports are of a death toll in Jamaica approaching 30 people.

Hospitals, roads, and various forms of communication bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa’s 185 miles per hour force.

Tony Anthony, who is from St Catherine, told the Observer that because most Canadian reggae artistes have Jamaican roots, it is important they support their homeland.

“Since this event involves Jamaica, where most of us were born, it feels more personal and closer to home. The overwhelming support from artistes, [sound system] selectors, musicians, and everyone involved in music shows how united we are in helping our country,” he said.