The Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands has activated a strategic response process to meet the immediate and long term needs of members, Clergy and vulnerable communities served by the Church, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl on July 3.
A pastoral letter from Diocesan Bishop, Archbishop Howard Gregory, noted that funds have already been released to respond to requests for help, which will be managed by Miss Claudette Marshall, Director of Mission at Church House – the Diocese’s Administrative Office.
“We will assist with the acquisition of basic necessities at this time, but will focus also on helping individuals to re-establish their source of livelihood as an area of priority, with the more costly undertaking of re-building projects as a second level engagement,” Archbishop Gregory assured the hurricane victims.
Thanking God for sparing the passage of the eye of the hurricane over the island, he expressed concern for the “consternation, anxiety and hopelessness” of persons, including members of the clergy who lost the roof of their rectory, as well as personal property and clerical attire.
While reports of damage to churches and other Diocesan property, such as schools, are still being collected, the Archbishop urged contributors to the Church Insurance Fund to submit estimates of the damage suffered on a timely basis to expedite the processing of claims.
With the absence of utilities because of infrastructure damage, Archbishop Gregory suggested that church buildings could be offered as points for the charging of cellphones in communities which have no electrical service.
“May God bless our land, as together we seek to bring healing and restoration to the lives of those who are living with vulnerabilities of one kind or another in the aftermath of the passage of Hurricane Beryl,” he concluded.