A UK support team, led by Resident British Commissioner John Hamilton, has been working closely with Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority officials to coordinate the urgent transfer of hurricane-relief supplies bound for Jamaica, following the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa earlier this week.

On Friday, port officials and UK representatives oversaw the movement of emergency aid from Antigua’s Deep Water Harbour to the V.C. Bird International Airport, where it was prepared for air shipment to Kingston on Saturday.

The operation is part of a wider regional response coordinated by the UK Government to assist both British nationals in the affected area and the Government of Jamaica in its ongoing relief and recovery efforts.

Hamilton noted that the UK’s rapid logistical support demonstrates its “commitment to standing with Caribbean partners in times of crisis.”

“The scale of damage in Jamaica is heartbreaking. We are ensuring that vital supplies — including water, food, medical kits, and temporary shelter materials — reach those most in need as quickly as possible,” Hamilton said.

Resident British Ambassador John Hamilton (screenshot of state media)

Hurricane Melissa’s Trail of Destruction
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, tore across Jamaica on Tuesday, packing winds exceeding 190 miles per hour and unleashing torrential rain and life-threatening floods across several parishes.

The worst devastation occurred in St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon, where entire communities were left submerged. In Black River, St. Elizabeth, police discovered three bodies earlier this week, bringing the storm’s confirmed death toll in Jamaica to at least three. Dozens more have been injured or displaced, and several persons remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

Infrastructure damage is extensive: roads and bridges were washed away, power lines collapsed, and telecommunications in several southern and western areas remain severely disrupted. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed, forcing many families to seek refuge in emergency shelters across the island.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared parts of the country disaster zones and pledged that “no community will be left behind” as recovery efforts scale up. The Jamaica Defence Force and local volunteers are conducting relief missions, while international partners — including CARICOM, the United Kingdom, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) — have mobilized assistance.

Antigua and Barbuda’s authorities have also offered logistical support and pledged solidarity with Jamaica. “

The UK Government said it will remain engaged “for as long as necessary” to ensure the recovery and rebuilding process is supported across the region.