Madame Acting Speaker, the world has been gripped by the images of the damage cause by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. Today’s weather forecasting means that we are almost forced to watch in painful, slow motion as such storms gather strength and make landfall.

Madame Acting Speaker, regrettably, the warnings matched, and in some cases exceeded the expectations of what Melissa would bring. Madame Acting Speaker, I would invite Honourable Members and the public to take note of the cruel irony of a storm of this strength and impact developing on the eve of the traditional end of hurricane season. It should be clear that there is a new reality regarding weather patterns. 

Madame Acting Speaker, that “new reality” is referred to in an article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, published yesterday. With your leave I would propose to quote from that piece as follows: 

“The savage strength of Melissa was exacerbated by the overheated air and ocean, caused by the heat-trapping emissions that come from the burning of fossil fuels, an international team of scientists has determined. 

Climate change increased Melissa’s maximum wind speeds by 7% and extreme rainfall by 16%, the team at World Weather Attribution, a consortium of 20 researchers from the US, UK, Sweden, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Jamaica and Cuba, found. 

Events such as the five days of pounding rainfall in Jamaica from Melissa are now about 30% more intense and twice as likely due to today’s altered climate, which is about 1.3C hotter, globally, than the pre-industrial average, the analysis found. 

Global heating has made the atmospheric and marine conditions behind such extreme events six times more likely.” 

Madame Acting Speaker, the impact of climate change is real, and the leadership required to confront this crisis must come from small island states — those who bear its brunt most severely, often to the detriment of the very people who can least afford it. Madame Acting Speaker, the tragic loss of life and the devastation to infrastructure have spurred a global response in support of Jamaica’s relief effort. In Bermuda, the Government has been pleased to join with private sector leaders & the Jamaican Association who have led a local appeal for aid.  

As Honourable Members will have seen from media reports, the local response has been incredible, and I wish to salute those who championed this cause and marshalled the logistics required to provide much-needed supplies to our brothers and sisters in Jamaica. In addition to the public donations, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, with the support of the Ministry of Health, provided approximately $80,000 in medical supplies. 

Madame Acting Speaker, as much havoc as Melissa wrought, the spirit of the Jamaican people is undaunted. Their resilience and determination to emerge stronger from this unprecedented natural disaster has inspired the world. Recovery and rebuilding will be a long journey, and the assistance of global and regional partners will be necessary in the long term. 

Madame Acting Speaker, Honourable Members will be aware of the longstanding relationship between the Jamaica Defence Force and the Royal Bermuda Regiment.  

In consultation with the Governor, the Regiment’s Commander-in-Chief, the Honourable Member, the Minister of National Security, and the Commanding Officer, we will determine how the Bermuda Regiment can best assist in the coming weeks and months.  

In addition to the potential assistance of the Bermuda Regiment, Honourable Members will be aware of the annual budgetary allocation for hurricane relief. That sum will be applied to also assist in the relief effort following consultation with the Government of Jamaica to ensure that key needs are met on the Island. 

Madame Acting Speaker, I wish to thank all those residents who gave in support of the relief effort. Your generosity has been appreciated and as we speak, that which you gave is finding its way into the hands of people who, in some cases, will be without power and other critical services for weeks. This will not be the last time that Bermuda is called upon to help and I am confident that this community will heed that call and continue to support our sister island of Jamaica and her people. 

Thank you, Madame Acting Speaker.