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Jamaican farmworkers in Nova Scotia are bracing for a difficult time when they return to their home country still recovering from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.
The Category 5 hurricane made landfall on October 28, killing at least 45 people and displacing 30,000 homes.
Seasonal workers who come to the province each year to work have received updates from their families about the dramatic extent of the damage across the country.
“Where the houses [were]all you will see is empty dirt and a lot of debris,” said Kensley Richards, who works at Taproot Farms in Port Williams, N.S., and plans to return home next month.
Richards has come to work in the province since 2008 to support his family in Manchester, in west-central Jamaica, where the damage was extensive.
“It was totally crushed,” he said. “Many people’s homes were crushed.”
The storm, which was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, damaged his own property, where he keeps animals and crops.
“When I get home, I have a lot of work there, picking up the pieces and seeing if I can fix it.”
Between Taproot and Noggins Corner Farm in Wolfville, there are about 70 Jamaican workers at the height of the season.
It’s been an anxious few weeks for workers, especially immediately after the storm, when it was difficult to reach their families amid disruptions to power and cell service.
“I think it was almost a week without hearing from them,” said Patrick Smith, who also works at Taproot Farms. “That was very painful.”
Smith’s wife, son and daughter eventually contacted him to let him know they were safe, but his Montego Bay region in the northwest of the country was also hit hard.
“I plan to come home and help my family members and even on my farm, I’ll do what I can do. It’s all about help now,” Smith said.
Workers are grateful for the support they have received from Port Williams and the surrounding area, where people have rallied to raise money to help.
“The money goes to farmers coming home to fix their lives, so I think it was really impactful,” said Taproot co-owner Josh Oulton.
Beyond Port Williams, fundraising efforts are underway across the province.
Nova Scotia-based singer Jah’Mila, originally from Jamaica, will be one of the performers at a relief concert taking place in Halifax on November 29.
He also started a campaign to donate much-needed supplies such as tarps, ropes and batteries, as well as clothing, food and school supplies.
Many people have suffered unimaginable losses.-Halifax singer Jah’Mila
The supplies will be sent to the country in the form of aid packages put together by volunteers.
Jah’Mila said she is doing this work “because so many people have suffered unimaginable losses,” adding that her own community of St. Ann, in the north-central part of the country, may not get its power back until January.
Jah’Mila, Smith and Richards are grateful that so many Nova Scotians are helping.
“I will thank each and every one of them,” Richards said.
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