The Miami Heat basketball team will celebrate ‘Jamaica Night’ next Tuesday, January 13, as part of their ongoing effort to assist Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa.

Following the hurricane’s passage on Tuesday, October 28, the Miami Heat pledged US$1 million to Jamaica’s hurricane relief efforts and donated 68 tons of hurricane relief supplies, consisting of food and medical kits.

It is expected that Jamaican Dancehall sensation Sean Paul will be at the game and interact with patrons on the court during the half-time proceedings.

The funds donated will be given to Food For The Poor Jamaica, with which Sean Paul has been working closely to provide hurricane assistance to Jamaicans in the affected parishes.

Reacting to the Miami Heat hurricane relief efforts, Jamaica’s Consul General Oliver Mair, who has also been championing hurricane relief efforts for Jamaica, has praised the organisation, noting that it is demonstrating true corporate responsibility.

“The Miami Heat has long been an integral part of our community and has always reached out to the community whenever the need arises. This is truly big, and I congratulate the Miami Heat on this magnificent gesture,” said Mair.

Mair recalled that last year the Miami Heat also hosted a Jamaica Night as part of its community outreach efforts. “The Miami Heat has always risen to the occasion when called on,” said Mair.

Dr Allan Cunningham, a season ticket holder with the Heat, said that the Jamaica Night initiative speaks volumes. “I am delighted at this effort, and it speaks to how the organisation views and appreciates Jamaica,” he said.

Cunningham, a former Global Jamaica Diaspora Council member for the Southern US Region and head of Jamaican For Broward County, told The Gleaner that the powers that be in Jamaica must ensure that such efforts benefit the people most impacted by the ravages of the hurricane.

Cunningham described the Heat’s continued hurricane effort as a big deal.

Corey Shearer, a Jamaican community activist in Florida, said the Jamaican community has always been supportive of the Miami Heat from the outset and that the Heat was recognising this support through its hurricane outreach effort.

“The relationship between the Jamaican community and the Heat has been further strengthened by having Norman [Powell] on the team,” he said.

Shearer said that efforts like that by the Miami Heat around the world will allow Jamaica to build back better and stronger.