Letter of the Day | The long journey back

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The suffering caused by Hurricane Melissa is real, and it runs deep. I am especially burdened by the plight of our children and the elderly. The displacement, trauma and educational loss children now face cannot easily be measured, nor can the emotional toll on our senior citizens, who have lost the security of familiar surroundings.

My recent visit to St Elizabeth, Trelawny, St James, and Hanover, touched me deeply. I saw children drifting aimlessly, elders sitting quietly where their houses once stood.

Amid the pain, there are also signs of hope. The Government has taken commendable steps in its initial response, and international agencies are here in full force to help us in the long recovery process.

I was deeply moved by a woman in St Elizabeth who, though personally affected, continued to share fruits with others in need. A quiet act of generosity that reflects the Jamaican spirit. Across the island, churches, charities, community groups, and members of the diaspora have rallied together, reminding us that, even in devastation, we can still choose hope over despair.

At the same time, those who manage the resources should choose not to engage in political showmanship or partisan bias. This is not a time to seek personal gain or political mileage, but a time for unity, transparency, and compassion. The Government of Jamaica should intensify its relief efforts, and at the same time, accelerate recovery operations, especially the restoration of water, electricity, and road access. Those are not luxuries, but essential for the maintenance of human dignity and national recovery.

I offer both encouragement and caution to my church family. We must not engage in relief merely for visibility or praise. Acts of kindness do not always make the headlines, but they echo loudly in heaven. We should also not become jaded because the media overlooked compassion demonstrated daily by congregations. Let us continue to serve quietly, faithfully, and with genuine love.

We should involve our children and young people, especially those not directly affected, in practical expressions of care and compassion. Through such engagement, we nurture empathy and help shape a generation that values community over self-interest - a generation that can lift its eyes from the screen and see the suffering of others.

Every denomination and charity organisation must now consider developing a sustainable disaster response. I commend the Seventh-Day Adventist church in Jamaica for taking the lead in this effort.

This time of devastation invites us to national reflection. Have we drifted too far into unloving behaviours, corruption, and idolatry of self and power? Perhaps this is a moment for Jamaica to recalibrate to rediscover love for neighbour, respect for all, and reverence for Jehovah, who alone is sovereign over storm and calm.

REVEREND DR ROY NOTICE

New Testament Church of God