I may have lived away from Jamaica for more than 50 years, but Jamaica has never lived away from me. Every memory of my childhood — the voices in the marketplace, the hills after the rain, the spirit of the people — still lives within me. Though life has taken me far, my heart remains anchored in the island that shaped me. My roots in Jamaica run deep. My family has been there since the 1700s. Generation after generation — parents, grandparents, great-grandparents — lived on and cared for that same land, and now rest together in our family plot in Ballard’s Valley, St. Elizabeth.

That land isn’t just a location; it is a symbol of endurance, memory, and belonging. And today, that same land needs us. After the devastation of Hurricane Melissa and the ongoing challenges Jamaica has faced, the time to act is not someday — it is now. That is why I am proud to stand with Rebuild Jamaica Now. This is not just a project. It is a movement — one rooted in love, legacy, and the belief that Jamaica’s best days are still ahead of us. But those days will only come if we invest in them.

I am asking you — not just as a fellow Jamaican, but as someone who believes in healing, in community, and in the power of giving — to join this effort. Your donation is not just money. It is a hand extended across oceans. It is a promise to uplift families, restore communities, and preserve the homeland that has given the world so much beauty, strength, and culture.

Our ancestors built Jamaica with their hands and their hope. Now it is our turn to honor them by rebuilding with our resources and our commitment. Whether your roots are deep in the soil like mine, or your connection is through culture, friendship, or faith — you are part of this story too.

Let us rebuild not just structures, but dignity. Not just homes, but futures. Not just roads, but pathways of opportunity and resilience. Jamaica is calling — and together, through Rebuild Jamaica Now, we have the power to answer.”