When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica last week, it left behind a trail of destruction, uprooted homes, flooded communities, and broken livelihoods. But from across the Caribbean Sea, a message of solidarity soon arrived, carried by a team of Trinbogian Muslims determined to help with disaster relief for Jamaicans.
The Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago (CMTT), known for its humanitarian outreach across the world, mobilized quickly. Within days, volunteers arrived in Jamaica and began what would become a massive two-day relief effort, a mission powered by faith, compassion, and community spirit.
On Saturday, CMTT spent the entire day purchasing and transporting supplies worth about US$22,000. The shopping list was long but purposeful, including rice, flour, sugar, beans, oil, pasta, tinned mackerel, macaroni, soap, detergent, toilet paper, crackers, and bottled water, all the basic items a family would need to get through the difficult days ahead.
These items were delivered to the Spanish Town Mosque, where volunteers immediately began packing 500 relief hampers late into the evening. Despite exhaustion from a long day of labour, the team’s spirits remained high, strengthened by a shared sense of duty and the words of the Prophet ﷺ: “The most beloved of people to Allah are those who bring the most benefit to others.”
Loading Relief Supplies
“It was a full day of hard work,” said Imtiaz Mohammed, CMTT’s Public Relations Officer. “But every minute was worth it. Seeing how much people are struggling after this disaster, we knew we had to push through and get these hampers ready.”
On Sunday, the team completed the remaining purchases and finalized preparations for distribution.
On Monday (November 3rd), they will head to Jamaica’s southwestern region, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa. Communities such as Black River, Newell, Mountainside, Big Wood, Knox Wood, and Williamsfield will receive the first 300 hampers.
On Tuesday, the mission continues to the northwestern towns of Montego Bay, Cambridge, and Negril, bringing aid and encouragement to even more families in need.
But the team’s compassion didn’t stop there. While in Kingston, CMTT reached out to assist Trinidad and Tobago students studying at the UWI Mona Campus, many of whom were also affected by the storm. After connecting with the student association’s secretary, Akeelah Manna, CMTT purchased an additional US$5,000 in supplies, including baked beans, tuna, soap, laundry detergent, and 150 cases of bottled water.
“Our day tomorrow [Nov 3rd] starts at 4:30 a.m.,” Mohammed shared. “We’ll be at the Spanish Town Mosque for Fajr (morning prayer), and by sunrise, we’ll begin the long drive to the south. Insha’Allah, it will be a successful day; every hamper we deliver is a message of hope.”
Through their actions, the members of CMTT are living the true essence of brotherhood, reaching across islands, cultures, and distances to serve humanity. Their efforts remind us that compassion knows no borders and that even in times of disaster, the Caribbean spirit of unity shines brightest.
Manwar Ali (l) and Imtiaz Mohammed (r)
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