UK minister pledges long-term support to Jamaica

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-05 | Original Article

UK Minister for the Caribbean Chris Elmore ended a visit to Jamaica on Wednesday, pledging Britain’s support for the island’s long-term recovery, reconstruction and climate resilience after Hurricane Melissa.

 

The visit comes after the UK provided £8 million (approximately J$1.7 billion) in humanitarian and emergency assistance in the immediate aftermath of the Category 5 hurricane to the Jamaican government, with support delivered through partners including UNICEF, the Red Cross, World Food Programme, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).

 

During his engagements, Elmore pledged the UK’s continued partnership with Jamaica across climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster preparedness, community safety, violence prevention, and economic recovery, the British High Commission said in a release.

 

“I never expected that my first visit to Jamaica in this role would be in the wake of the country’s most significant hurricane in 70 years. I am clear that the UK continues to stand with Jamaica as the country recovers. We were glad to act quickly in providing £8 million in humanitarian support when the disaster hit, and we continue to deliver assistance now to those worst affected, including by deploying UK emergency medical teams”, Elmore said.

 

Elmore began his official visit on Tuesday in St Elizabeth, where he toured damage-affected areas in Black River alongside head of the St Elizabeth Police Division, Superintendent Coleridge Minto.

 

A major highlight of the visit was the tour of the Santa Cruz Health Centre, one of Jamaica’s UK-funded SMART Health Centres that remained operational through both hurricanes Beryl and Melissa.

 

Through the PAHO and World HEalth Organization Smart Hospitals Initiative, the UK has invested £8.5 million ($1.8 billion) to strengthen Jamaica’s health sector resilience including upgrading four facilities to SMART Gold Standard and improving eight others with critical safety, energy-efficient and climate-resilient features.

 

As part of the UK-funded Violence Prevention Partnership Programme, the British minister also visited the Haile Selassie High School, where he participated in an interactive session on youth empowerment and gender-based violence prevention with the ministries of national security and education. Young people from the ASHE Performing Arts Company delivered an impactful “edutainment” performance that highlighted the challenges faced by youth, the importance of safeguarding against unsafe sexual practises, and being aware of gender-based violence.

 

“The students inspired me deeply. Their voices, creativity and resilience show exactly why the UK will continue investing in youth empowerment and violence prevention in Jamaica” the minister noted.

 

Across all engagements, Elmore emphasised that the UK’s partnership is not limited to short-term relief, but is anchored in long-term climate resilience, infrastructure development, health system strengthening, and community safety.

 

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