Durrant Pate/ Contributor

With only minimal impact on its facilities at Twickenham Park, St Catherine, and no long-term disruptions to business, Omni Industries Limited is ramping up production and distribution of essential construction materials, such as zinc and PVC pipes, necessary for Jamaica’s recovery from Category 5 storm Melissa.

“All our staff are safe, and we were fortunate to have weathered the storm with very little damage at our plant….Omni is now operating at full capacity and is now ramping up supply through manufacturing and strong relationships with international suppliers of the critical items Jamaica needs to rebuild,” Managing Director Patrick Kumst reported. 

Kumst listed one of these items as Alu-zinc, which Omni distributes along with zinc nails, PVC pipes and fittings, which will be crucial to restoring water supply; plywood and boards; electrical conduits; and other general hardware supplies.

“We know how important it is to restore homes, businesses and basic services, and we do not want to be in a scenario where these products are needed and we have a grossly inadequate supply. So we’re doing everything we can, within our production limits, to increase our inventory,” Kumst emphasised.

Aiding in national recovery 

He pledged the company’s readiness to support the national recovery, reminding that “Omni has been part of Jamaica’s foundation for over 50 years, and in this moment, we’re here to do what we’ve always done, which is provide materials people can count on. “We’re ready to work closely with agencies like the NWC, JPS, and others, leading the restoration of key services. We are here to support and will assist in every way possible.”

For his part, company Chairman Von White highlighted, “Though the team has resumed operations, it’s still quite hard for it to be business as usual.

“The effects of what has happened to our island are visible, and the mental toll of this impacts both those facing the brunt of it and those witnessing it unfold…so during this time, our focus is on helping Jamaicans rebuild; it’s on donating essential items to those who urgently need them. First, I must say that Omni Industries expresses its deepest sympathy to all Jamaicans reeling from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa. Many are hurting. Some have lost their houses and belongings, some mourn loved ones, and many have seen their farms or businesses wiped out. There are still Jamaicans in cut-off areas, waiting for relief, and thousands are without the comfort of reliable water or even electricity.”

He noted that “the company is aware of how swiftly circumstances shifted for so many across the island, and one of the ways in which it can be of service is by ensuring that the essential materials it manufactures and distributes remain available at this critical time”.

Outside of production, Omni is also directly assisting communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

According to the company, truckloads of Omni’s products and care packages are being directed to relief efforts in western Jamaica, which bore the brunt of the storm. 

The company has coordinated with some of its customers, like Kemteck Development and Project STAR, to provide items like Alu-zinc roofing, water buckets, and construction materials to areas in Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth and other impacted parishes. In addition, it has also deployed a team of volunteers to assist with cleanup efforts.