Dear Editor,

The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa has revealed two versions of Jamaica: one defined by the legendary resilience of our people, and another, darker version, defined by a predatory lack of conscience.

While thousands of our brothers and sisters remain in darkness, a different kind of darkness has infected the hearts of those we should be able to trust. It is a profound wickedness when government officials and workers — individuals who still have roofs over their heads — feel “entitled” to the belongings of others and the aid intended for the most vulnerable.

Yesterday, on December 31, 2025, a friend of mine, after working for weeks in the blistering cold, returned home through Sangster International Airport (SIA). He brought a generator in his suitcase for his wife and child in St Ann, who have been trapped in uncomfortable darkness and devoid of communication for two months.

When he went to collect his luggage, the suitcase was empty. The generator — a lifeline for his family — had been stolen within the walls of one of our national airports. Reports have been unfruitful thus far, and concerns expressed to SIA authorities feel brushed off.

This story is not an isolated incident; it is one of many. When did we become a nation where a man’s sacrifice for his family is seen as an opportunity for a “hustle”?

We must demand immediate accountability.

• To the SIA management and customs: We demand a transparent audit of security footage and baggage handling protocols. “Unfruitful” reports are no longer an acceptable.

• To the Ministry of Transport and Mining: It is time to implement a “zero tolerance” policy for airport staff caught tampering with luggage in practice — not on paper only! The reputational and moral cost to Jamaica is too high to ignore.

• To the public: We must stop silent complicity. If you see aid being diverted or goods being pilfered, speak up. Stop purchasing goods from people you know likely did not obtain it honestly!

• To those who pilfer from the broken: Your perceived entitlement is built on the misery of your own people.

We cannot remain silent while honest citizens are robbed twice — first by the storm, and then by the greedy. It is time for the authorities to start protecting the citizens.

Francesca Tavares

francescatavares@yahoo.com