The Joint Private Sector Hurricane Melissa Relief Task Force is commending the VM Group for its $5 million donation to its relief effort.

The task force, which involves the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) announced on Wednesday that the donation from the VM Group brings the total donation close to $2 billion.

The donation was formally handed over on Wednesday during a brief ceremony at the PSOJ’s Head Office in St. Andrew and will support ongoing national recovery efforts, including the distribution of relief supplies, MSME assessments, and targeted interventions in the most severely impacted communities.

PSOJ President Metry Seaga expressed profound appreciation for VM Group’s leadership and swift response.
“This generous contribution from VM Group pushes the private sector’s collective mobilisation to nearly $2 billion,” Seaga noted. “It is a powerful demonstration of how Jamaica’s business community continues to stand firmly with our citizens at a time of immense national need. VM has shown true corporate citizenship, and we are grateful for their proactive support.”

Speaking at the handover, Courtney Campbell, Group President & CEO of VM Group, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to Jamaica’s resilience and long-term recovery.

“Hurricane Melissa has tested the resilience of families, communities, and businesses. It requires all of us to step forward,” Campbell said.

VM Group’s donation forms part of its wider recovery programme, which includes reconstruction grants, loan moratoria, and mental-health support for team members, as well as community outreach undertaken through the VM Foundation.

Meanwhile, President of the JMEA, Kathryn Silvera, welcomed the contribution, noting that the scale of need across western Jamaica requires sustained, coordinated action.
“Hurricane Melissa has left deep scars across our households, our farmers, and our small manufacturers,” Silvera said. “Support like this from VM Group helps us accelerate relief and strengthens our ability to reach the families and enterprises most affected.”

JCC President, Emile Leiba also praised the partnership and the collaborative spirit driving the task force.
“The unity of purpose shown by Jamaica’s private sector is remarkable,” Leiba said. “VM Group has stepped forward at a critical time, and their contribution bolsters our ability to deliver targeted, impactful assistance where it is needed most.”

The joint private sector task force continues to work closely with national agencies, civil society partners, and private sector donors to coordinate relief supplies, evaluate the needs of displaced families, and support the recovery of affected businesses, particularly MSMEs that form the backbone of many rural economies.