Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, alongside a New York delegation of elected officials, hosted a humanitarian mission trip to Jamaica following the landfall of the devastating Category five Hurricane Melissa. The historic storm was record-breaking, becoming the third most intense hurricane in the Atlantic and the strongest to make landfall on the island of Jamaica since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.
“The people of Jamaica, although resilient, are hurting,” said Speaker Carl Heastie. “It is our duty to assist our brothers and sisters during their time of need. With the recent rise in global temperatures, we are witnessing storms that were once considered rare occurrences, now becoming more frequent and causing widespread destruction and devastation. Representing the 83rd Assembly district, a district with the largest Jamaican population outside the island, this storm struck a personal chord. It became a top priority to call upon our community to extend a helping hand to our neighbors, families, and friends.”
In preparation for the trip, there was a donation drive hosted at the Northeast Bronx YMCA. Items donated included nonperishable food items, new clothing, toiletries, first aid materials and equipment, and so much more. During the mission, which ran from December 18 through December 21, these goods were distributed across many sites that were impacted by Melissa and included primary schools, churches and community centers across the parish of Westmoreland. Hundreds of people were able to benefit from the donated goods…