EVEN as they continue to sift through rubble in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, residents of St Elizabeth are appealing to their countrymen to refrain from scaling back Christmas celebrations this year and, for the sake of the children, to bring the festivities to the hardest-hit communities.

Parents and residents in Parottee and Burnt Savanna told the Jamaica Observer that while their homes and livelihoods have taken a severe hit, the one thing they refuse to let the hurricane take away is the joy of the Christmas season. They called on Jamaicans in the east to help them fulfil their Christmas wish to rebuild, with events focused on recovery and providing toys for children.

Britney Durrant, a mother of two who lives in Parottee, said the festivities would bring hope to many that people still care and are willing to help.

“I think they could do some things, especially for the children, maybe have a children’s treat or a family fun day…Everybody is traumatised, but just to help the ones that have lost everything who need to be cheered up. Everybody needs it, but some people need it more than [others],” she said.

Durrant shared that, while she has not yet seen any, she is hoping for some Christmas lights at night-time for the children to enjoy and to illuminate the darkness and destruction that surround them.

“I think they [the children] feel scared, and getting them into the Christmas spirit will at least give them a little bit of hope or give the parents hope. I think the Christmas spirit will be good for them; even though at their age, the smaller ones don’t really understand, but we don’t want to hear them say, ‘Oh, my house is gone.’ At least for Christmas, for the season, let us hear them say, ‘Oh, this Christmas I saw Santa Claus, I saw a Christmas tree, I saw pepper lights!’ Doing it for the kids is good,” she told the Observer as she urged Jamaicans to bring the holiday cheer.

Durrant’s neighbour, Raltson White, also a parent, wants to see evidence of the season of giving alive in the community and other hurricane-affected areas, too.

For him, Christmas will not be the same because he’s still traumatised from Melissa and can’t find it in himself to celebrate, but he’s calling for external help to make Christmas cheer possible for the children.

“To bring back the joy, I think it would be more like for the kids because kids will always be kids. Some of them probably realise, and some don’t realise what it is, but to give them the little toys, the little lights and so forth will just cheer them up a bit,” he reasoned.

He also suggested that for adults the focus should be on helping them rebuild their homes because while the toys will be great for the children, the greatest gift for any parent or adult would be a place to safely rest their head at night.

“We are inviting people from the east to come and make our Christmas brighter,” said White.

For Kadrija Lindo, a resident of Parottee and a mother of two, her only Christmas wish is for a home. She said that her house was destroyed in the storm, and she is currently living in a house provided by a relative. With a deadline of January 2026 to find alternative lodging she’s racing to find a place to again call home with her children.

“Having somewhere to stay with the kids and be comfortable would be really great for me. I have two kids — a six-year-old and a four-year-old — so I’m just trying to get somewhere safe and comfortable for me and my kids for the Christmas,” she told the Observer.

As the Observer team drove around the parish, similar wishes were shared by residents who lost everything and are trying to see how best they can get by. A large crowd was spotted at Burnt Savannah Early Childhood Institution as residents collected meals from World Central Kitchen. Upon approaching the residents, many begged for assistance and a chance to share their wish for help to rebuild their homes this holiday season.

Burnt Savannah resident Cassandra Green said that her Christmas wish is for a container home for her and her baby, and a solar light to guide them through the night. She explained that she’s now living in a rented property that was destroyed, and despite her best efforts, the house is still in need of repair.

“I really need the help because some of the zinc off the roof flew off. I walk and pick up some, and I get somebody to put them back but the whole place is leaking same way. I’ve checked so many people for tarpaulin to get it on, but all now nothing,” she said.

The lack of electricity in the area has also added to Green’s struggles because she has to use a candle or kerosene lamp, which is starting to affect her and her baby.

“It [the lamp] a suffocate us because we are coughing and stuff like that. For the night, roughly four candles I have to burn, and you know that it is eight [candles] hold in one pack and it’s $200 for one pack. My baby’s father, he does furniture work and [there is no electricity] here for him to do anything, so nothing nah gwaan nowhere. Sometimes when they are giving [away] things, and we come, [it’s] the same set of people get it, and I can’t manage the pushing and hogging,” she said, pleading for assistance.

Getel Harriot, with a crutch under her arm for support, slowly walked toward the Observer team, inquiring about the team’s presence in the area. She shared that her shop and home had been damaged in the hurricane and she needs assistance to rebuild.

“My wish for Christmas is to get a little help on my house. If I could get a bed or a stove, I would appreciate it. Also, my shop is gone — everything gone. The material in it is gone, the goods are gone, I don’t have anything; so my wish for Christmas is that somebody could help me back with my little shop and house. I would give thanks,” she said nervously, with hope in her eyes.

In an encouraging message to all affected Jamaicans, Richard Thompson urged them to still find joy this holiday season. He said that while his roof was torn off by the storm, he is grateful to be alive. His only wish is for a “good Christmas for all”.

“I wish it would be a good Christmas for all, but you done know how it go, it is kind of sticky. We still have to give thanks to the Father that we are still alive. We know Christmas is an every year thing, so we still have to respect and love Christmas same way because from life no come out of us, no matter how poor we are, we can celebrate the Christmas same way,” he encouraged.

To help fulfil the Christmas wish of any of the individuals mentioned in the story above, please reach out to the Jamaica Observer for their contact information at editorial@jamaicaobserver.com or contact the reporter at ashmant@jamaicaobserver.com.

DURRANT…let us hear the children say, ‘Oh, this Christmas I saw Santa Claus’ Photo: Karl Mclarty

Kadrija Lindo, a resident of Parottee, St Elizabeth, has a deadline of January 2026 to find alternative accommodation. Photo: Tamoy Ashman

Cassandra Green wishes for a container home and a solar lamp to provide a safe space for her family. Photo: Tamoy Ashman