Over 100 fishers in the Whitehouse and Old Bay Fishing communities are better able to resume operations following a $3.5 million donation of 120 rolls of fish wires, and 6,720 litres of gasoline from the Sandals Foundation and RUBiS Energy Jamaica.

On Friday, November 28, the Sandals Foundation began the distribution of fishing wire to 120 fishers – building the capacity of the fisherfolk to produce up to 600 fish pots – their tool of trade. Each fisher also received 56 litres of UltraTec 90 gasoline to fuel their boats from RUBiS Energy Jamaica - a welcome boost for the men and women whose lives and livelihoods have been significantly interrupted by Hurricane Melissa.

“The psychological impact of Hurricane Melissa is something that haunts us each day,” says Diego Salmon, Whitehouse Sanctuary Manager, “You look around and everything is a reminder of the great loss the community has faced. The need is overwhelming, but our fishers are resilient and are working tirelessly to rebuild. We are grateful for this opportunity to strengthen our community.”

A sentiment shared by Michel Malatino, Chief Executive Officer at RUBiS Energy Jamaica, “We are happy to support this important hurricane relief initiative which will help fisher folk return to their livelihoods, provide for their families, and rebuild their communities,” says Malatino.

For Whitehouse fisherman, Oneil Smith, Hurricane Melissa dealt a major blow, “All the boat and fish pot dem mash up so we can’t go out and make money. The help that we receive will give us a start and make me continue my business.”

The Whitehouse Fish Sanctuary was established in 2013 by the Sandals Foundation. Over the years, Salmon with his team of five have developed trust and the support of the community, creating a strong partnership for the preservation of its marine life.

Now, the sanctuary office and its wardens stand as a vital support system to the fishing community – providing care packages, free ice to vendors and residents, and access to power strips and solar powered energy supply to charge devices and maintain connectivity to family, business partners and clients. The wardens have also installed solar streetlights in key locations to improve security.

Since the October 28 passage of Hurricane Melissa, the Sandals Foundation has maintained a sustained presence of relief support – including the facilitation of psychological support for residents with counsellors from the Kahle Journey and the Jamaica Psychological Association.  As part of its ongoing efforts, the philanthropic organisation continues to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to strengthen the capacity of fishers.

“A major pillar of our work is creating and endorsing opportunities that strengthen our communities. Supporting fishers restores income-generating pathways while providing additional food sources to communities that rely on their efforts to sustain their families. We are eternally grateful to our donors and partners that have made this all possible,” says Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation.

As for the long-term livelihood recovery plan, which relies on the health of the marine resource, the Sanctuary Manager affirms, “We all have a deeper appreciation for our sanctuary as it will act as a building block to restoring our livelihoods. Once we have achieved self-sustenance, we will shift our focus to assessing the damage to our reefs and begin replanting corals as needed,” Diego Salmon, Whitehouse Sanctuary Manager.