If Jamaica Observer writer Mr Harold Bailey is to be believed, numerous Jamaican and supportive organisations and individuals in the United States are scurrying to beat the Government of Jamaica’s December 31, 2025 deadline to bring in hurricane relief supplies duty-free.

The Government had set a first deadline of November 28, 2025 and then extended it to December 31 to encourage those wishing to respond to the heartbreaking damage wreaked by Hurricane Melissa by sending assistance without having to pay Customs duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT) on items such as food, water, medical supplies, construction materials, and equipment such as generators and solar units.

We think that, given the enormous outpouring of support from international and Diaspora organisations, it comes as no surprise that many others, especially Jamaicans overseas, are still trying to respond to the suffering of their hurricane-impacted compatriots.

Just last week the Jamaica Observer reported that the massive response from Jamaicans overseas had overwhelmed the ports in Kingston and Montego Bay, St James, causing concern among Diaspora entities mindful of the looming December deadline for clearance of goods.

We have no doubt that as the waiver deadline draws nearer the Government would be doing the requisite assessment to determine whether it makes sense to do a further extension in order to facilitate those who still wish to ship supplies home.

Granting Customs duty and GCT waivers is never easy, and it is even harder at a time when the country needs every dollar it can muster to finance the mountainous requirements for post-hurricane reconstruction.

One factor supporting the waivers is the fact that the supplies shipped home and volunteers in human expertise represent value in kind and service that the country would not have to pay for. Neither would have come into our coffers ordinarily. The support of our partners will continue to be critical to the rebuilding of infrastructure and restoration of essential services.

And even if one factors in the inevitable tax cheats, that would pale in comparison to the good done by offering duty waivers, without which, we suspect, the avalanche of Diaspora support would not materialise.

On another point, we wish to join Foreign Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith in expressing gratitude for the support and solidarity from the international community in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

“In times of crisis, no country can stand alone. We are thankful to our international friends and partners for their commitment, compassion, and willingness to stand with us,” the minister said in her statement in the Senate last Friday.

Mrs Johnson Smith struck a note that supports our point about extending the waiver deadlines, in underlining the fact that the support of our partners “has not only assisted in the relief effort, but will continue to be critical to the rebuilding of infrastructure and restoration of essential services”.

It was also important that the foreign minister enumerated in great detail the various organisations, international, governmental, non-governmental, private sector, individuals, and groups, including faith-based organisations, that immediately mobilised aid for our affected communities.