Help the Great Bay Community Rebuild

On July 3, 2024, Hurricane Beryl passed directly over the south coast of Jamaica decimating the incredible community of Great Bay.

Great Bay is a small fishing village in an area known as Treasure Beach in the parish of St. Elizabeth. The region is isolated from the main tourist areas and the community prides itself of maintaining the values of old Jamaica where community-mindedness and quiet pride are ever-present. Anyone that visits the area immediately notices the beauty of its beaches, but the beauty and warmth of the people is what steals your heart. It is truly a tranquil coastal village that exudes character, charm, and gives everyone (locals and visitors alike) a distinct sense of belonging.

Many of the houses in the community are built in the traditional Jamaican fashion using lumber and zinc for roofing. Hurricane Beryl brought Category 4 winds (exceeding 100mph), storm surge, and heavy rainfall. Almost every house in the community lost it's roof, at a minimum, and is uninhabitable. Roads are not passable. Power is not available. Most forms of communication are virtually impossible. To add insult to injury, the community is maintained by fishing and the small amount of tourism that it can support. Fishing boats and rental villas were also decimated by the hurricane. It will be some time before they are able to rebuild their small economy.

This small but mighty community that gives so much needs immediate help!

We are a long-time Jamaican family with strong ties to Great Bay. As GoFundMe does not facilitate the transfer of funds to Jamaica, we are using our Canadian family to gather and send the funds. Every dollar donated will be provided to the residents of Great Bay to rebuild their houses and their businesses. A small donation can go an incredibly long way.