WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — More than 100 fishers in the Whitehouse and Old Bay fishing communities are closer to resuming their livelihoods following a $3.5 million donation from the Sandals Foundation and RUBiS Energy Jamaica. The contribution includes 120 rolls of fishing wire and 6,720 litres of UltraTec 90 gasoline, providing critical support as the communities rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

The Sandals Foundation began distributing the fishing wire on Friday, enabling fishers to craft up to 600 fish pots, an essential tool of trade. Each fisher also received 56 litres of fuel from RUBiS Energy Jamaica to power their boats, offering a significant boost after weeks of disruption caused by the storm.

“The psychological impact of Hurricane Melissa is something that haunts us each day,” said Diego Salmon, manager of the Whitehouse Fish Sanctuary. “You look around and everything is a reminder of the great loss the community has faced. The need is overwhelming, but our fishers are resilient and working tirelessly to rebuild. We are grateful for this opportunity to strengthen our community.”

RUBiS Energy Jamaica CEO Michel Malatino echoed the sentiment, noting the importance of restoring livelihoods.

“We are happy to support this important hurricane relief initiative which will help fisherfolk return to their livelihoods, provide for their families, and rebuild their communities,” said Malatino.

For fishers like Oneil Smith, the support is timely.

“All the boat and fish pot dem mash up so we can’t go out and make money,” he said. “The help that we receive will give us a start and make me continue my business.”

Established in 2013, the Whitehouse Fish Sanctuary has long served as a community partner in marine preservation. Since the hurricane’s passage on October 28, its office and wardens have expanded their role, distributing care packages, supplying free ice, and offering access to power and solar-charging stations to help residents stay connected. Solar street lights have also been installed in key locations to improve safety.

The Sandals Foundation has maintained a strong presence in the area’s recovery efforts, including facilitating psychological support through counsellors from Kahle Journey and the Jamaica Psychological Association. The foundation continues to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to strengthen fisher capacity.

“A major pillar of our work is creating and endorsing opportunities that strengthen our communities,” said Heidi Clarke, executive director of the Sandals Foundation. “Supporting fishers restores income-generating pathways while providing additional food sources to communities that rely on their efforts to sustain their families. We are eternally grateful to our donors and partners that have made this all possible.”

Looking ahead, Salmon says long-term recovery will depend on restoring the marine environment.

“We all have a deeper appreciation for our sanctuary as it will act as a building block to restoring our livelihoods. Once we have achieved self-sustenance, we will shift our focus to assessing the damage to our reefs and begin replanting corals as needed.”

RUBiS Energy Jamaica providing 6,720 litres of UltraTec 90 gasoline to support fishers livelihood in Westmoreland.