In the wake of the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, major financial institutions in Jamaica are mobilising significant resources to support national relief and recovery efforts. Scotia Group Jamaica has committed approximately $18 million to Food For The Poor Jamaica to provide essential food and care packages to affected families. This forms part of their initial $165-million national relief allocation. Simultaneously, CIBC Caribbean, in partnership with its parent company, has committed US$500,000 (approx J$79.5 million) toward a multi-level response, including funding a field hospital for Savanna-La-Mar and providing financial relief and pre-paid cards for essentials.

These initiatives highlight a coordinated corporate drive to address both immediate humanitarian needs and the long-term task of rebuilding. Beyond financial contributions, both banks are deploying their people, with Scotia volunteers packing thousands of food parcels and CIBC teams ensuring aid reaches their employees and hard-hit communities. This collective action underscores the financial sector’s critical role in helping Jamaica navigate the crisis, focusing on restoring stability and hope across the island. Their efforts are the highlight of today’s Business Social.

Roger Miller (left) and Fabian Maxwell are among over 60 Scotia Foundation volunteers who assisted with packing relief packages at the Food For The Poor Elerslie Pen location on Monday. The team was able to put together over 2,000 packages.

CIBC’s Kingston-based team packs care packages for their colleagues and countrymen in the western part of Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa (Photo: O’Neil Grant)

CIBC Chief Executive Officer Mark St Hill, with members of the Barbados Defence Force and Barbados health sector, as the bank commits US$250,000 to the field hospital deployed to Jamaica. (Photo: Brooks LaTouche Photography)

Members of the Barbados Defence Force pack one of 12 containers of equipment to be deployed to Jamaica.

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