KINGSTON, Jamaica — Emerging dancehall artiste Jay-A Gullyside and his 1Nato team visited communities in St Elizabeth over the weekend where he handed out over 85 care packages to the elderly and people who were left homeless and destitute in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

“It was an emotional thing for me…the devastation…just to see it up close. We see dead people ah rotten in the communities around Black River, dead animals, the stench was terrible,” Jay-A recounted.

“We went beyond Treasure Beach to help the people, we gave out packages in Southfield, and we focused on communities beyond Black River. We went to Billy’s Bay and the area is fully covered and the communities after you pass Jack Sprat and go round, the houses were covered by water, the houses mash up, vehicles gone, dem lose everything…it was heart-breaking,” the artiste continued.

He chronicled a hellish landscape of downed trees, demolished houses and communities marooned and cut off by stagnant waters, which had a stench of dead livestock.

“Some people lose everything, mi see baby mothers ah stop us and ah ask for pampers. Remember these are proud people, people involved in the agricultural and fishing sector who are used to fending for themselves, dem sit down at some shop front and have to be begging for help, it’s heart-breaking,” Jay-A expressed.

“Mi see a Rasta man who lose his boat cause a container drop on it, his mother and father’s grave wash out by the waters, all he could say was ‘thank God I am alive, give thanks for life’. It was very touching.”

Jay-A said the excursion was forced to turn back at the community of Goshen, which is located within the Pepper area of St Elizabeth, when he realised that the community was still inundated.

“Goshen stay bad man, we encountered water and had to turn back, there are people still stuck in their houses there,” he said.

He chatted with residents and listened to their near-death experiences in the face of the Category Five Hurricane Melissa and tried to render comfort where he could.

“Mi nuh rich but I hope the little I give can inspire or motivate others to do the same, mi love mi place Jamaica,” Jay-A said.

Jay-A is a frequent collaborator with dancehall superstar Mavado and other artistes like Dexta Daps.