Rebuilding Clarendon Together: Highlights from the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Forum
- Winsome M. Sherrier Witter
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Published by Serenity Resource Connector 🤝Sponsored by National Self-Serve Wholesale
After a brief pause following Hurricane Melissa, the SRC Community Development Live Forum returned for a powerful conversation focused on Clarendon’s recovery and resilience.
The session featured Councillor Joel Williams, Mayor of May Pen, who offered a comprehensive update on the storm’s impact and the collaborative recovery efforts now underway.
Hurricane Melissa’s Impact on Clarendon
Communities in the northern belt of Clarendon bore the brunt of the storm, including:
Frankfield
Victoria
Bloomwell
Sunbury
Peace River
Crofts Hill
Aenon Town
Thompson Town
Kellits
Bog Hole
Longwood
Major Impacts:
🏠 Housing: Widespread damage to hillside homes.
🌾 Agriculture: Crop loss and livestock deaths in farming belts.
🛒 Commerce: Many small shops closed due to power outages.
🥬 Market Supply: Vegetable shortages due to flooding in Bog Hole.
“Our housing stock in the hills was badly damaged… and without the northern belt, markets like May Pen and Coronation would be empty.” – Mayor Williams
Relief Coordination & Community Resilience
Agencies Responding:
Jamaica Defence Force (JDF)
Ministry of Labour & Social Security
Social Development Commission (SDC)
RADA
JPS
What’s Happening:
JDF delivered food to cut-off areas like Smithville.
Over 2,000 homes were assessed by social workers for damage and aid.
The Custos of Clarendon and Justice of the Peace (JP) network are helping mobilise food and supply donations.
Community Leadership:
In Coffee Piece, a young woman from the diaspora led the rebuilding of a collapsed roadway with the help of over 20 community members.
Farming and Market Recovery
Key Initiatives:
🚜 Mobile RADA Registration: RADA officers will register farmers on-site, eliminating the need to travel to May Pen.
👨🏽🌾 Municipality as a Connector: The Mayor is positioning the municipality to bridge communication and support between RADA and farmers.
🐔 Small Poultry Farmer Support: Many small farmers and shopkeepers lost their butchered meat and frozen stock due to prolonged power outages, leading to major economic setbacks.
Farmers are encouraged to document their losses with photos or videos to qualify for support.
Markets Under Restoration:
Kellits and Spalding markets are being prioritised for repair to revive vendor activity and stimulate the economy.
Infrastructure & Utility Restoration
Electricity:
The Mayor has been working closely with JPS to restore electricity, especially in hard-to-reach hilltop communities. Electricity is essential to restart economic life in shops and homes.
Roads and Bridges:
The York Town corridor remains a major concern.
“This corridor carries critical power infrastructure from Panassus. If it collapses, it could cut electricity to May Pen, the hospital, infirmary, and more.” – Mayor Joel Williams
Repairs are planned for the Alley Bridge and other vulnerable roadways.
Shelter Services & Social Support
52 shelters were opened across Clarendon during the storm.
Many shelter managers left their own damaged homes to care for others.
Several basic schools were damaged and are now being repaired by community volunteers and diaspora support.
“We can’t pay those people. They are the real heroes during Hurricane Melissa.”
Health, Vector Control & Clean-Up
No disease outbreaks reported so far.
Fogging and vector control teams are expected to begin soon.
Garbage clean-up is underway across affected communities.
A National Clean-Up Day is planned to remove bulky waste and old appliances.
Support from the Diaspora and Local Heroes
“If you can help, give us a reaching hand. We’re rebuilding together.”
The Mayor issued a call to Clarendonians abroad and Jamaicans everywhere to support recovery through donations, volunteering, or information-sharing.
How You Can Help
Ways to Support:
Donate food and materials through:
The Office of the Custos of Clarendon
The Clarendon Parish Development Committee (PDC)
The Social Development Commission (SDC)
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS)
Offer technical skills, help with registration drives, or sponsor rebuilding materials.
Stay Informed
Click the organisation name below to follow their official Instagram pages:
Watch the Full Forum Replay
We invite you to view the full replay of this session below:
Special Thanks to Our Sponsor
This forum is proudly sponsored by National Self-Serve Wholesale, whose continued support ensures this civic engagement platform remains accessible to all.
“We appreciate your dedication to strengthening our communities, month after month.”
Final Word from Mayor Joel Williams
“You’ve already started to rebuild — not waiting on the government. We are here to continue working with you. Together, we’re going to make Clarendon stronger than before.”
Help Spread the Word!
Share this blog with your network.
Contact local agencies to find out how you can help.
Donate or volunteer if you’re able.
Let’s ensure our brothers and sisters in Clarendon can recover with dignity, resilience, and support.
Comments