CORAL SPRING, Trelawny — Cayman Islands Minister of Finance and Economic Development Rolston Anglin has described Jamaica’s recovery following Hurricane Melissa as a classic example for small islands.

“It would, though, be remiss of me if I did not make mention of the marked recovery on the heels of Hurricane Melissa to our colleagues here in Jamaica. To hear the statistics of recovery is impressive,” said Anglin, who is also the minister with responsibility for education and training.

“I harken back two decades ago when we [Cayman Islands] were devastated by Hurricane Ivan, and I can remember going two-plus months, as an elected member, without electricity reaching my house. This recovery is a textbook case of what can be done in small island states,” he added.

Anglin was speaking during Tuesday’s opening ceremony of the Organization of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR) 2026 Conference, being held at the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny.

He noted that the Cayman Islands provided assistance in Jamaica’s time of need.

“As Bob Marley questioned in his song, ‘Where is the love to be found?’ I am proud that the Cayman Islands stood with Jamaica in its recovery efforts. I believe we were the first ones in, post-Melissa; but we didn’t do it as charity. We did it as family.

“Because the lesson from Melissa is a lesson for our region: where one of us is struck, all of us must answer; as one rebuilds, all of us must learn,” Anglin said.

In the meantime minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for science, technology and special projects, Dr Andrew Wheatley, expressed gratitude to the Cayman Islands for its support following the Category 5 storm last October.

“Our colleague from the Cayman Islands, I must remind you that we are very grateful that the Government and people of Cayman [who] responded so quickly. I believe you guys were the first to come to our assistance in a tangible way after Hurricane Melissa. It speaks to the long-standing bond between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands over the years,” said Wheatley, who was representing Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness at the OOCUR conference.

The conference, which runs from April 27 to May 1, is being held under the theme ‘Navigating Caribbean Regulatory Challenges: Opportunities, Innovations and Collaborations’.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development in the Cayman Islands Rolston Anglin, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Organization of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR) 2026 Conference at Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny on Tuesday. (Photo: Horace Hines)