Prime Minister Gaston Browne has reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to regional solidarity, announcing that the country will provide financial assistance and deploy soldiers to assist Jamaica’s recovery following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.

The Prime Minister made the pledge on Monday during a CARICOM solidarity mission to Jamaica, where he joined leaders from Barbados, Grenada, and Guyana to tour the hardest-hit communities and meet with Jamaican officials coordinating national recovery efforts.

Speaking on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Browne emphasized that the twin-island nation stands firmly with Jamaica during this period of hardship.

“I want to encourage the Jamaican people to soldier on and to carry on despite the circumstances,” he said. “We are very resilient as Caribbean people. This too shall pass. Continue to rebuild bigger and better.”

Prime Minister Browne noted that the region’s shared experience with catastrophic storms binds Caribbean states together. He highlighted Barbuda’s extensive rebuilding effort after the island was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017, pointing to it as evidence that recovery, though difficult, is achievable with determination and strong regional support.

He stressed that Antigua and Barbuda’s contribution will be both practical and immediate, with relief supplies, financial support, and members of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force expected to assist in on-the-ground operations.

The CARICOM leaders’ visit aimed to reinforce the collective spirit of regional unity, demonstrating the bloc’s readiness to assist any member state struck by disaster.

As Jamaica begins the long path toward rebuilding homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods, Prime Minister Browne says Antigua and Barbuda will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the country.