Students of King’s Primary & Infant School in Westmoreland received some well-needed assistance from the Kia Cares Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative on Saturday, November 22, 2025.

“This initiative is part of Kia’s values and behaviour,” Allamish Creightney, sales manager – Kingston, Kia Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Creightney’s words were echoed by her counterpart at the western end of the island, Shaunette Swaby-McDonald, sales manager – Montego Bay, Kia Jamaica.

“Kia has a presence here on this side of Jamaica, and it’s not business as usual. It’s about the community and trying to give back, to bring a sense of renewal to those affected by Melissa,” she said.

In partnership with Sandals Foundation and Wisynco Group Limited through their M-POWA drink brand, around 55 Kia team members arrived in a convoy, led by the all-new Kia Tasman pickup, at the school to help with the rebuilding efforts. The vehicle is the brand’s first-ever pickup.

“We brought the Kia Tasman with us. This is its first time on the road, and we used this initiative to launch the Tasman. So, it’s not a regular launch. We did this to show the Jamaican people we care. Instead of using the money to do a regular launch, we said: ‘Why not give back to Jamaica?’ And we adopted a school in partnership with Sandals Foundation,” explained Creightney.

The Tasman is a true workhorse featuring a body-on-frame construction for off-road capability. It’s powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that sends 210bhp, with 325 lb/ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission to a true four-wheel drive system.

Towing capacity is 7,716lbs, with payload capacity at 2,242lbs. Beyond that, the Tasman is packed with practical engineering, including a console table in the interior and side storage in the bed. Owners will enjoy sedan-like modernities such as a panoramic wide display and the largest second row space in its class.

The Tasman is available from Kia starting at just over $12 million.

At the school, the Kia team joined individuals from Team Rubicon USA and over 30 community members, which included parents, teachers, and students.

“We are super appreciative of all of their help today. We could not have done this without them,” said Kelly Nunes, project manager, Sandals Foundation.

Nunes explained that King’s Primary & Infant School was one of the several schools Sandals Foundation had a long history of support, with one of the project being its computer lab.

Serving 150 students in the community of Longhill and surrounding areas, the aim was to clean the classrooms filled with the debris left in the wake of Hurricane Melissa to assist the grade six students who were preparing for their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams.

“I am overwhelmed by the support here today. It’s a tremendous job, and I feel so good that, come next week, we are in a state of readiness to accommodate our grade six students back into school,” said Marcia Tatham-Miller, principal, King’s Primary & Infant School.

Creightney explained that this is the first of such efforts under the ‘Kia Cares’ Hurricane Melissa relief initiative, and that the brand expects to do more in the coming months. She also urged other corporate citizens to adopt a school where possible to ease the impact on students.

The all-new Kia Tasman in action.(Photo: Rory Daley)

King’s Primary & Infant School was severely damaged during the passing of Hurricane Melissa on the western end of the island. (Photo: Rory Daley)

Allamish Creightney (left), sales manager – Kingston, Kia Jamaica, and Shaunette Swaby-McDonald, sales manager – Montego Bay, Kia Jamaica, assist in clean-up efforts at King’s Primary & Infant School in Westmoreland. (Photo: Rory Daley)

Kelly Nunes (right), project manager, Sandals Foundation, directs the Kia Jamaica volunteers at King’s Primary & Infant School.(Photo: Rory Daley)

Kia Jamaica volunteers unload much-needed supplies for King’s Primary & Infant School in Longhill District, Whitehouse, Westmoreland.(Photo: Rory Daley)

The all-new Kia Tasman pickup breaks cover for a good cause — the relief efforts surrounding Hurricane Melissa.(Photo: Rory Daley)