As families across Jamaica grappled with damaged homes, disrupted communities, and a challenging road to recovery following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, international support became a critical lifeline. This month, the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AmCham Jamaica) will recognise one of the organisations that stood alongside the families and communities across the island. 

At its Business & Civic Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility Awards and 40^th Anniversary Gala set for Wednesday, May 27, AmCham Jamaica will present the Eagle of the Americas Award to the Bureau for Disaster and Humanitarian Response (DHR) of the United States Department of State in recognition of its relief and recovery support following the hurricane.

The special presentation is expected to be one of the defining moments of the evening, carrying a significance that extends far beyond a traditional awards ceremony. For the Chamber, the recognition symbolises the enduring relationship between Jamaica and the United States, a partnership built not only through business and investment, but through solidarity during moments of crisis.

In the aftermath of the disaster, humanitarian assistance and coordinated recovery efforts became essential to helping communities begin rebuilding their lives. Under DHR’s leadership, the United States Government mobilised more than US$22 million (approximately $3.5 billion JMD) in immediate humanitarian assistance. This support delivered life-saving aid, including emergency food supplies, clean water and sanitation systems, healthcare and mobile medical services, shelter materials and home repairs, debris removal, logistics support, and the restoration of access to isolated communities across the island.

AmCham Jamaica President Ann-Dawn Young Sang said the award is intended to honour the compassion and cooperation shown to Jamaica during one of its most vulnerable moments.

“There are moments in a country’s history that remind us how important partnership truly is. Following Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica experienced not only devastation, but also an outpouring of support from those willing to stand with us during recovery. As AmCham Jamaica celebrates forty years of strengthening ties between Jamaica and the United States, we believe it is important to honour those partnerships not only in times of prosperity, but also in moments of hardship,” she shared. 

Working in close collaboration with trusted humanitarian partners, including the International Organisation for Migration, the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Project HOPE, Samaritan’s Purse, and Haiti Air Ambulance, the DHR ensured that aid reached the most vulnerable communities quickly, efficiently, and with compassion. 

The response further included the deployment of specialised Urban Search and Rescue teams whose experts assessed more than 8,500 structures across 60 communities, conducted life-saving operations, cleared critical roadways, provided emergency medical assistance, and facilitated the delivery of essential relief supplies. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, water, shelter, medical, and hygiene supplies were transported to hard-hit areas, while technical support from NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey strengthened disaster assessment, mapping, and recovery planning efforts.

The Eagle of the Americas Award is among AmCham Jamaica’s highest honours and is reserved for institutions and leaders whose actions reflect extraordinary commitment to regional partnership, service, and development.

This year’s gala also marks the 10^th anniversary of Amcham Jamaica’s Business & Civic Leadership Awards Programme, which was established to celebrate organisations and individuals whose contributions positively impact Jamaica’s social and economic landscape.

Founded in 1986, AmCham Jamaica has spent four decades fostering stronger commercial, diplomatic, and civic ties between Jamaica and the United States while advocating for economic growth, investment, and responsible corporate leadership.

The 40^th Anniversary Gala will bring together leaders from government, the diplomatic community, and the private sector for an evening centred on leadership, resilience, and the power of partnership.