When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, it left a trail of destruction that stunned the nation. Homes were flattened, livelihoods shattered, and once-green landscapes scorched brown by violent winds. Yet from the moment the storm passed, something powerful began unfolding thousands of miles across the Atlantic. From London to Lisbon, Birmingham to Brussels, and Paris to Amsterdam, Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica rose in one coordinated wave of compassion, organisation, and coordination to support the island’s long-term recovery.
In the second edition of our Building Back Jamaica Strong Diaspora Town Hall hosted by attorney-at-law and radio host Suzette Speaks, representatives from across the UK and Europe provided a comprehensive overview of the relief efforts now underway. What emerged was a portrait of a global community rising to meet the moment with heart, discipline, and unwavering commitment.
“Wherever You Are, Keep Doing What You’re Doing” — UK High Commissioner
His Excellency Alexander Williams, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, opened with both gratitude and caution. Although his own family escaped major damage, he made clear that the recovery ahead will be long and complex. The High Commission has established official drop-off hubs across the UK — including London, the Midlands, Scotland and surrounding regions — working with freight forwarders and community partners to collect relief items strictly aligned with the Government Needs List on supportjamaica.gov.jm.
He urged donors to avoid clothing, expired goods, and UK-voltage electronics, and instead focus on essential items that can be shipped efficiently and used immediately in Jamaica. The response has already been so massive that several centres are facing backlogs, prompting calls for additional volunteers.
“Wherever you are in the world,” he said, “keep doing what you’re doing. Follow the needs list, use the official sites, and avoid the misinformation that slows help from reaching the people who need it most.”
Tourism and the Road to Recovery
Despite the devastation, the High Commissioner noted that most of Jamaica’s hotel inventory remains intact, with only one major hotel scheduled to close for repairs. Flights have largely resumed, and tourism — approached sensitively — will play a meaningful role in supporting Jamaica’s economic recovery over the coming months.
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A Cultural and Humanitarian Machine in Motion
For Nathaniel Peat, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Representative for UK South, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind. His family home in St. Ann sustained roof damage, yet he has remained deeply involved in coordinating community-led efforts across the region. He described the mobilisation as “phenomenal,” noting that churches, promoters, community groups, and everyday Jamaicans have organised fundraisers with breathtaking speed. Concerts, neighbourhood-based drives, wellness events, and parish-specific appeals have appeared almost overnight, each one contributing to the growing pool of resources heading to Jamaica.
Peat also highlighted the importance of direct financial support to families on the ground. He mentioned the TapTap Send partnership with VM and JMMB to allow individuals to send assistance instantly with no transfer fees. Using the code ROHJA, first-time users can trigger an additional top-up, allowing even small contributions to make a large impact.
For Peat, the effort is as much emotional as it is practical. “We must rise above the storm like eagles,” he said during the town hall. “Shift, adjust, and ascend — because Jamaica is depending on us.”
Residents across the UK can stay updated through his vetted newsletter at nathanielpeat.com/gjdc, which provides accurate and up-to-date information and reports, official drop-off points, verified events shared directly from Jamaican authorities.
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Europe Steps Forward: Nearly €3 Million in Aid and Counting
From Brussels, Ambassador Diedre Mills through a special video message shared how the European dimension of the relief effort has been both substantial and swift. Her diplomatic network covers Belgium, Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Monaco, in addition to representing Jamaica before the European Union and UNESCO. From these jurisdictions, nearly €3 million in relief items has already been mobilised.
Several EU member states — including Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, France, Slovakia, and the Netherlands — have sent assistance either directly or through coordinated EU mechanisms. Naval vessels operating out of Curaçao have also participated in transporting supplies. Ambassador Mills stressed that Europe has “wrapped its arms around Jamaica,” offering help in moments when the country needs it most.
She also confirmed that Doctors Without Borders departed from Brussels shortly after the hurricane and are now in Jamaica providing on-the-ground medical and humanitarian support. The Embassy will join the International Baptist Church in Brussels on November 30 for a prayer service for Jamaica, a symbolic gesture of unity and healing.
Continental Europe: Creativity, Compassion, and Organised Action
Representing the broader European diaspora, Dr. Ethel Rose de Vrieze-McBean, the GJDC Representative for Europe, described a region where Jamaicans have mobilised not only resources but imagination. Across the continent, relief work has taken many forms: cultural events, online campaigns, community partnerships, charitable dinners, art auctions, and grassroots drives responding directly to local needs in Jamaica.
One of the most notable contributions came through the Jamaica Diaspora Mentorship Academy, which immediately turned its attention to the emotional wellbeing of young people affected by the hurricane. Mentors reached out to check on their mentees, assess family needs, and coordinate the delivery of groceries to households facing severe hardship. Dr. McBean stressed that while rebuilding homes is essential, supporting the psychological recovery of children must not be overlooked.
In the Netherlands, a newly formed Jamaican-led foundation has begun setting up a direct supply chain from Antwerp to Jamaica, focusing not only on immediate relief but also long-term rebuilding. Meanwhile, in France, Jamfete and the Jamaican Diaspora en France (JaDiF) have organised multiple initiatives — from school-based fundraising to community events — demonstrating how even small diaspora pockets can create meaningful impact.
Belgium, Luxembourg, and Spain have seen Caribbean collectives and Jamaican cultural groups rally through music, culinary events, and neighbourhood fundraisers. In several cities, Jamaican restaurants, shops, and creatives have pledged portions of their sales to hurricane relief. One Jamaican artist in Europe is auctioning original paintings to help a school in Hanover, turning cultural expression into tangible support.
In Dr. McBean’s words, “We may not be as large a diaspora as the UK, but our creativity is boundless, and our commitment to Jamaica is unwavering.”
A Global Community Rising Together
The town hall and Ambassador Mills’ update revealed a powerful wave of unity, as Jamaicans across the UK and Europe, together with allies of Jamaica, rallied in support of the island during this critical moment. From London’s concert halls to Brussels’ diplomatic corridors and from Paris’ cultural centres to Rotterdam’s community kitchens, Jamaicans across Europe have shown that home is not defined by distance. It is defined by duty, love, and the unshakeable belief that we rebuild as one.
As Ambassador Mills reflected, “Europe stands ready to help Jamaica rise again.” And in every corner of the UK and Europe, the message echoed the same sentiment: Jamaica will rebuild — not just because it must, but because its people, wherever they are, refuse to let it fall.
