The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expresses its deep concern and solidarity with the government and people of Jamaica, as well as with other CARICOM member and associate states, including Haiti, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and other countries in the region that lie in the path of Hurricane Melissa, a meteorological system of unprecedented intensity.

We commend the efforts of the national disaster management agencies and first responders who have worked to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone.

We urge everyone to follow the official guidance and information being shared in order to save lives in the face of this devastating storm.

CARICOM reaffirms its commitment to a collective effort to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in the wake of the hurricane, particularly through the coordinated efforts of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).