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  • 3 weeks ago
Jamaica continues its recovery from Hurricane Melissa, which has claimed at least 19 lives. Prime Minister Andrew Holness says restoring electricity and critical services remains the top priority, as Trinidad and Tobago steps in with emergency support.
Transcript
00:00After conducting both aerial and underground assessments in Falmouth, one of several areas in Jamaica severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa,
00:10Prime Minister Andrew Ellis on Saturday expressed gratitude to the medical teams working tirelessly there in the aftermath of the storm.
00:19Reuters reported that at least 19 people lost their lives in Jamaica as a result of the hurricane.
00:25It is unfortunate I've heard of deaths subsequent to the passage of the storm, not having to do directly with the storm,
00:34but I'm told, Minister, that persons have been poisoned by carbon monoxide from the use of the generators.
00:43I take this opportunity to encourage everyone who is going to be using a generator to do so very carefully.
00:51Leave it outside, and if you don't need it, then don't leave it running.
00:57In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister Ellis said his administration's immediate priority is to restore electricity and telecommunications
01:04and to ensure that essential services, particularly at the Falmouth Hospital, are stabilized.
01:10In a post on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besessa announced
01:15that medical supplies from Trinidad and Tobago were sent to Jamaica on a Caribbean Airlines flight on Friday
01:21and an initial coup from TNTech, the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission,
01:26departed for Jamaica on Friday to conduct an assessment.
01:29Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa said a larger team will be sent to assist in restoring power lines.
01:34As she also said, she was grateful to receive the letter Jamaica's High Commissioner wrote
01:39conveying on behalf of the government and people of Jamaica, quote,
01:44sincere appreciation for the swift and exemplary support extended by the government
01:49and people of Trinidad and Tobago in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, end quote.
01:54The High Commissioner noted Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa's, quote,
01:56message of compassion and personal affinity for Jamaica
02:00resonate profoundly with our people at this difficult time, end quote.
02:05In the letter to Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa,
02:07the High Commissioner said Jamaica is deeply grateful
02:10for the comprehensive composition of the initial consignment of items
02:14that directly align with priority needs on the ground.
02:18Jamaica's High Commissioner said the High Commission also recognized
02:21what it called the pivotal role of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association
02:26and added, quote,
02:27this effective collaboration among government, industry and civil society
02:32stands as a model of partnerships in crisis, end quote.
02:36The High Commissioner expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa's acknowledgement
02:40of the leadership of Prime Minister Allness
02:43and Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa's encouragement of regional partners
02:47to sustain this collective effort.
02:50Jamaica's inter-ministerial team, the High Commissioner added,
02:54stands ready to continue close coordination with Trinidad and Tobago.
02:58Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa said on X that
03:00Trinidad and Tobago will continue to lend the support to Jamaica
03:04and other nations impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
03:08Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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