Prime Minister Gaston Browne will depart Antigua and Barbuda this morning to join a high-level CARICOM solidarity mission to Jamaica, following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa. He will be accompanied by his wife, the Honourable Maria Browne, Minister for Housing, Lands, and Urban Renewal.

The regional delegation will travel to Montego Bay and surrounding communities in St. James — the area hardest hit by the Category 5 hurricane — where they will meet with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, assess ongoing relief efforts, and strengthen CARICOM’s coordinated response to the disaster.

Prime Minister Browne said the purpose of the mission is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jamaican people during one of their most difficult moments in recent history.

“As CARICOM brothers and sisters, we cannot simply watch from afar when one of our own is suffering,” Browne said. “Jamaica has endured an unimaginable tragedy. This mission is about solidarity, compassion, and action. We are here to listen, to support, and to help chart the path toward rebuilding stronger than before.”

Minister Maria Browne, expressing her sorrow at the scale of destruction and loss of life, added, “My heart breaks for the families that have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. I join the people of Jamaica in mourning — and in hope. Hope that together, as a Caribbean family, we will help rebuild lives and restore communities.”

Hurricane Melissa: A National Tragedy
Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28 as an extremely dangerous Category 5 system with sustained winds reaching 185 mph. The storm caused catastrophic damage across western and southern Jamaica.
•⁠ ⁠Twenty-eight lives were lost.
•⁠ ⁠Infrastructure in several parishes was severely compromised.
•⁠ ⁠Sangster International Airport sustained major damage.
•⁠ ⁠Homes, schools, and businesses were destroyed.
•⁠ ⁠Road networks remain blocked by an estimated 5 million tons of debris, equivalent to more than 480,000 truckloads.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has estimated the economic toll at US$6–7 billion, representing roughly 30% of Jamaica’s GDP — an unprecedented national disaster.

Regional Response Underway
CARICOM agencies and regional partners have mobilized rapidly.
•⁠ ⁠CDEMA deployed its Regional Response Mechanism to coordinate relief logistics.
•⁠ ⁠CARPHA dispatched medical supplies, mosquito nets, laboratory kits, and technical teams to conduct public-health assessments.
•⁠ ⁠The Caribbean Tourism Organization pledged its full support, declaring that “One Caribbean will rise stronger.”

What the CARICOM Delegation Will Do
During the visit to Montego Bay, Prime Minister Browne and the regional team will:
•⁠ ⁠Tour the areas with the most severe destruction
•⁠ ⁠Meet with local authorities, emergency responders, and displaced families
•⁠ ⁠Observe shelter operations and debris-removal work
•⁠ ⁠Hold consultations with Jamaican officials on disaster financing and long-term recovery
•⁠ ⁠Engage with CDEMA and CARPHA experts to coordinate future resilience and preparedness initiatives

Prime Minister Browne emphasized that the mission is not only about immediate relief but also long-term reconstruction.

“This is about rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure, strengthening public-health systems, and protecting economies,” Browne said. “Melissa reminds us that climate change is not a distant threat — it is our present reality. We must invest urgently in resilience and mobilize international support.”

He urged development partners, donor agencies, and friendly governments to channel assistance through CARICOM mechanisms to ensure effective, coordinated rebuilding efforts.

The upcoming visit reflects Antigua and Barbuda’s and CARICOM’s strong commitment to regional unity. It is a clear message that the Caribbean stands as one in times of adversity.

“As Jamaica navigates this painful chapter,” Browne said, “the people of the region will walk beside them. When one Caribbean nation falls, the others must help lift it back up. That is the spirit of CARICOM.”