With both hands on her head, the woman looked into the dusky sky as light rain fell, bewilderment etched on her face. Behind her was the shell of what might have been her home on Cooke Street, a community in “Russia”, located in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland’s capital. Most of the houses look eerily similar, roofless, some with blown out windows and doors, clothes hung on odd wires. It was quiet, with most people sitting or standing in their yards as my vehicle played hopscotch with the downed light poles.

I was there as part of a mission delivering food supplies, rice, canned foods, chicken and drinking water, a gift from the Sweet P Home Care and the Dr Patricia V Smith Foundation, and Acts of Miracles Foundation based in the USA and run by Dr Patricia Smith, in conjunction with the Secret Hearts Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ International and the Resort Areas Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Dr Smith, a Jamaican who runs the successful group of nursing homes, was giving help at a time of immense need to some of the most vulnerable people and devastated communities in Westmoreland.

I marveled at her energy earlier, as she marched her fit frame inspecting the damaged homes and churches, while offering encouragement to the many people we encountered, some church members, with a sad litany of woes, how the hurricane shook their homes before lifting the roofs leaving them staring at the dark sky. I felt guilty about my complaints about the lack of phone service. These people had no modern conveniences really, and not much hope of an early resumption.

“We are here to put a band aid on a big wound right now focusing on the most vulnerable people for the time being until we can combine with the larger rebuilding effort,” said Dr Smith as she handed over the foodstuff. She pointed out that in other areas like Water Works, Georges Plain and Little London, most houses and buildings were severely damaged and appealed for the authorities and the voluntary groups distributing assistance, to focus more on outlying communities where there was less penetration by donors.

“Around 80 per cent of the houses have been destroyed in this area,” observed Inspector Hartley, from the Resort Areas Division of the JCF.

Westmoreland’s large population of leasehold homes, many composed of movable wooden frame houses, as well as concrete structures, is among the hardest hit from Hurricane Melissa. The destroyed homes form part of the crumbling infrastructure in the parish which includes bad roads and limited modern facilities which compounds the misery of the residents.

In his comments, Chief Apostle, Dr Ray Anthony Foster, thanked Dr Smith for leading the initiative and beginning what would be a continued focus on rebuilding the shattered lives of the affected residents with additional assistance expected from other organisations in the United States and the wider Caribbean region.

The church group also inspected damage to their churches which was severe in Sav-la-Mar with entire roofs and pews destroyed.
The groups have followed up their food distribution by preparing cooked meals which they serve at various central points. Last Sunday, Dr Smith fed over 100 persons at 4 Barkley Street in Savanna-la-Mar and she is appealing to groups such as the World Central Kitchen, to focus more on Westmoreland.

Preliminary estimates of the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa has been put at between US$6 billion and US$7 billion, which is equivalent to roughly 28 to 32 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for fiscal year 2024/2025.