JMEA Conducts Damage Assessment and Coordinates Member Support

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has completed an initial assessment of the impact of Hurricane Melissa, with 29 manufacturers across the island reporting direct damage to their operations. Losses range from equipment and inventory destruction to severe infrastructure damage and prolonged production disruptions.

Based on the responses received so far, the total estimated damage is approximately JMD 250 million, although several respondents are still assessing their losses. This figure reflects reported impacts on sales, infrastructure, and inventory, while some damages remain undetermined and will continue to be assessed.

The hardest-hit sectors include manufactured foods and beverages, wood and furniture production, cosmetics and personal care, and primary agriculture. Companies such as Konki Industries Limited, Gray’s Pepper Products Limited, Paris Ruby Gourmet, Zincwest Roofing and Building Supplies, Pure Chocolate Company Limited, Bartley’s All In Wood, Jamaica Standard Products Company Limited, and Outland Hurders Farmstead Creamery were among those severely affected. Damages range from collapsed factory roofs and flooded facilities to machinery loss, raw material spoilage, and widespread crop destruction in areas such as St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Portland.

JMEA President Kathryn Silvera said the assessment was undertaken to identify the scale of disruption. “This assessment allows us to understand the true extent of the damage to our productive base and to determine how best the JMEA can support recovery progress,” Silvera explained. “It also helps to inform the government and financial institutions on what interventions will be most relevant to ensure that our manufacturers especially MSMEs can rebuild and remain globally competitive.”

Silvera also noted that despite the widespread impact, approximately 80 percent of manufacturers have resumed normal operations, particularly in parishes that were not directly affected. This recovery, she said, reflects the sector’s resilience and the urgency of restoring stability across Jamaica’s productive industries.

In addition to assessing the impact, the JMEA has been leading coordination efforts to channel private sector support into national relief operations.

As part of the national relief effort, the JMEA has been actively coordinating procurement and logistics in partnership with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the

Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC). The Association has also been working alongside the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to source and distribute essential relief items. To date, over J$10 million worth of goods including canned foods, bottled water, beverages, and other staples have been procured from local manufacturers and delivered to the parishes most affected, with more supplies scheduled as additional private sector funding is mobilized.

“Our team has been at the center of coordinating quotations for urgently needed supplies, giving relief agencies access to manufacturers they wouldn’t normally have direct contact with, managing purchase orders, and overseeing logistics to Up Park Camp,” said Silvera. “It’s been an all-hands-on-deck effort by our staff and member companies who understand that industry must play a key role in national recovery.”

Silvera noted that several member companies have stepped up to the forefront to assist in the recovery efforts. Among them are Quality Incorporations VII Ltd and its partners, The Best Dressed Chicken, Wisynco Group, Seprod Limited, GraceKennedy Limited, LASCO Manufacturing, Red Stripe, Wray & Nephew Limited, Berger Paints and Caribbean Cement Company Limited.

“We are deeply proud of our members who continue to step up even amid their own challenges,” Silvera added. “Their commitment to community and country is a powerful reminder that Jamaica’s manufacturing sector doesn’t just drive the economy it drives compassion, resilience, and unity.”

The manufacturing and export sectors are the backbone of Jamaica’s economic recovery,” said Silvera. “Our focus is on rebuilding smarter, strengthening supply chains, and supporting every manufacturer regardless of size to rise again. We also urge our members and the wider business community to donate or sell relief items to the government at cost, ensuring a steady supply of essential goods to those most in need.”