Grammy-winning reggae musician Shaggy, whose real name is Orville Richard Burrell, has taken swift action to assist his home country of Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. A few weeks later in early October, one of those storms strengthened into a rare directly-impacting Category 5 hurricane to land on Jamaica. This catastrophe inspired direct relief work from the same artist known for his global pop-dancehall classics like “Boombastic” and “Angel.”
When faced with devastation, Shaggy was committed to using his resources to get much-needed supplies into the communities. He flew them in his two planes, which he loaded with highly needed emergency supplies to save the lives of hurricane victims. The items were tarpaulins, female sanitary pads, Pampers for babies, torchlight and batteries. He would then shuttle these supplies from Miami, Florida, directly to the worst-hit areas in Jamaica.
Shaggy’s commitment to his country drove him to drive six hours back to the city to transfer supplies into smaller vehicles capable of reaching remote locations. He traveled all the way to Black River in St Elizabeth parish. Unfortunately, that region took a direct hit from the storm’s devastation.
“It’s urgent to get the word out and make sure people don’t forget,” Shaggy commented, emphasizing the importance of ongoing support for those impacted by the disaster. His parting concern was over what this hurricane and shift in tourism would mean for Jamaica in the years to come, saying, “Jamaica’s forever changed by the storm.”
In wake of Hurricane Melissa’s horrible, destructive path, relief efforts have begun. It has further done a tremendous service by raising huge questions about the mental health needs of those affected. Shaggy stressed, “We’re definitely going to need a little bit of therapy.” He understood the importance of meeting psychological needs in the wake of such a terrible event.
Now at 57 years old, Shaggy isn’t done using his platform for humanitarian efforts. Beyond his efforts in Jamaica, he has brought his support to other areas of the Caribbean as well, including Haiti. He is passionate about making a difference for the underserved. This green infrastructure commitment represents the new Executive Director’s strong connection to his birthplace.
Shaggy continued, “Before the trip, I don’t know anything about relief or preparing for a storm. In doing so, he recognized the struggles he had to get his ducks in a row. Yet, despite these challenges, his determination to bring such crucial aid is strikingly clear. It has been a truly transformative program for communities reeling from the effects of Hurricane Melissa.
