In a time of great disaster and despair, the solidarity of friends cannot be overstated.

Jamaicans, thousands of them hopelessly helpless in the wake of a monster hurricane, would have been heartened by the arrival of a Caribbean Community (Caricom) delegation, led by four heads of government.

The visit of Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda; Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley; Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, and President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana, on November 17, 2025, represented way more than symbolism. No doubt, it could have been enough to see the scenes of sheer devastation captured on television.

The Caricom press statement on the visit describes it appropriately: “In a powerful demonstration of unity and regional solidarity, Caricom heads of government… from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, and Guyana; Caricom Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett and leaders from the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean… visited Jamaica to witness first-hand the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

“This mission underscored the community’s collective commitment to recovery and resilience… The Caricom heads emphasised that their presence was not only symbolic but deeply personal: As a regional family, they too have endured similar disasters. They expressed confidence that the resilience and strength of the Jamaican people will once again allow the nation to rise stronger than before.”

It is known that at the moment relations in Caricom are somewhat strained over how to deal with tricky geopolitical issues such as the Zone of Peace, with fears that the United States military could attack Venezuela; Trinidad and Tobago’s support for the US against Venezuela; and differences over Israel’s decimation of Gaza, among others. The visit therefore signals that, in the final analysis, no matter the disagreements, our regional territories — which are all vulnerable to the vicissitudes of external influences, climate change, and the development challenges of small island states — must stand together.

We especially note that the visiting delegation did not come empty-handed or with mere fancy words — for which politicians are well known.

As part of their relief gifts, for example, Barbados pledged a field hospital and additional garbage removal trucks; Guyana offered engineering support from the Guyana Defence Force to assist with debris removal and rebuilding efforts, along with the provision of 200 roofs; while Antigua contributed linemen to help in the restoration of electricity.

Other member states and associate members, some not present in Jamaica, have also pledged support to accelerate recovery and restore hope to affected communities. The visit was supported by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and representatives from the Regional Security System (RSS).

Speaking for Jamaicans, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who is also chairman of Caricom, said appropriately: “Jamaica is grateful for the solidarity being shown and for the reassurance that we do not stand alone. Through partnership, unity, and shared purpose, we will rebuild our communities and strengthen our nation’s ability to withstand future challenges.”

This is indeed an excellent demonstration of Caribbean unity.