It’s a heartbreaking time for hundreds of temporary foreign workers who have just finished their work terms in Canada and can’t fly home after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 in Jamaica. 

The Jamaican Liaison Service, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, has contacted farm employers with an urgent request for assistance after the Category 5 storm. 

“The damage is profound, with reports indicating catastrophic flooding, numerous landslides and massive infrastructural damage,” writes Althea Riley, chief liaison officer. “We are particularly concerned about the agricultural sector, which has suffered extensive losses which threaten long-term food security and economic stability of the entire nation. Support for the rebuilding of Jamaica’s agriculture sector is a critical priority for the island’s recovery.” 

Riley is asking farm employers to consider all possible direct support – financial or otherwise – to the Jamaican farm workers currently in their employ. 

Supporting the Jamaica Disaster Relief Fund is the most effective way to help the country rebuild.  Website:  www.supportjamaica.gov.jm

Donations of essential goods and supplies can be dropped off at the designated emergency relief warehouse in Canada. In Ontario, drop-off sites have been organized in Mississauga, Niagara Region, Simcoe and Meaford/Clarksburg. 

SOURCE:  Jamaican Liaison Service October 29, 2025 letter to farm employers