When Desperation Meets Disarray: A Plea for Humanity in Jamaica

As I watched this video above and remembered the aftermath of Irma and Maria back to back in Turks and Caicos in 2017 my heart aches!

What’s happening in Jamaica right now isn’t just looting — it’s a cry for help. A cry from the hungry, the hopeless, and the forgotten who feel cornered by circumstance. After Hurricane Melissa’s destruction, what should have been a moment of unity and compassion has turned into scenes of chaos — stores raided, goods stolen, streets on edge. But beneath it all lies a simple truth: people are desperate.

Now, let’s be real — looting can never be justified. It only deepens the wounds and makes rebuilding even harder. But we can’t just shout “stop the looting” without also asking why it’s happening. When a mother can’t feed her child, when a man sees his family sleeping hungry night after night, reason starts to lose its voice. Desperation takes the mic.

That’s why I want to speak directly to two groups today — those giving aid, and those holding the means to give.

First, to the government agencies, community groups, and relief workers on the ground — thank you. Your work matters. But as you distribute aid, please keep the process humane, structured, and transparent. When instructions are given, people must follow them. Order saves lives. The trucks and volunteers can only move efficiently when the crowds cooperate. If we descend into disorder, it slows everything down and puts even more people at risk.

And to the business owners and suppliers — my message is simple: don’t let pride or profit get in the way of compassion. If your shelves are full and your warehouses stacked, ask yourself what it means when people are breaking down doors just to eat. That’s not a good look — not for your brand, not for your country, not for your soul.

Let’s be the generation that gives before it’s taken. Open your stores, but do it with structure and heart. Partner with churches, schools, or local councils. Hand out what you can — bread, canned goods, water, diapers — and let people come through with dignity. No cameras, no pity, no publicity stunts. Just human decency.

Because at the end of the day, what people need right now isn’t just food — it’s hope. They need to know that someone sees them, that their lives matter enough for others to care.

So to my Jamaican brothers and sisters — let’s take back control of the narrative. Follow the guidance of those helping, respect the process, and let’s restore calm. We’ve survived storms before, and we’ll do it again — but this time, let’s rebuild with empathy, not ego.

No one should have to loot to live.
Let’s feed our people with kindness — and rebuild a Jamaica where everybody eats

Kerwin Boxill