On Tuesday, cultural leaders, lawmakers, and music heavyweights gathered to launch the Jamaica Strong Relief Concert. This is a sprawling effort to support the island’s recovery after Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane caused nearly $9 billion in damage and displaced more than a million people.
The event, hosted by the Irie Jam Foundation, showed how deeply the storm’s aftermath has resonated across New York’s Caribbean communities. Shaggy, who will headline the December 12 benefit at UBS Arena alongside Sean Paul and other major artists, said the urgency of the moment left little time for the usual long-range planning. Yet, there was no hesitation.
“We are the culture. We are Jamaica,” he said. “Some of your favorite artists wanted to be here today, but this came together so quickly that a lot of them already had commitments. Even if they can’t stand on the stage that night, they’re supporting this in every way they can. And honestly, Jamaica is the biggest artist on this show. Jamaica is the star we’re all showing up for.”
Organized by the Irie Jam Foundation, Jammins Events, Roadblock Radio, and the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, the concert aims to fund housing assistance, medical relief, and long-term rebuilding across regions hit hardest by the October 21 storm. The lineup—expected to include reggae, dancehall, and crossover acts—reflects what organizers called a “cultural duty” to respond.
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Urges Immediate U.S. Support for Jamaica
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose Brooklyn district includes one of the country’s largest Jamaican diasporic communities, said the event offers something traditional policy channels often can’t: immediacy.
“It’s incredibly important that cultural leaders and government leaders work side by side,” Clarke told HOT 97 after the conference. “We can take what we hear from our constituencies straight to the State Department. We can push them to meet the moment. Jamaica has always been an ally of the United States, and so many Americans consider it a second home. Seeing the island struggle like this has moved people deeply.”
Clarke said the devastation in places like Montego Bay and Negril has only intensified the need for technical and financial support from the U.S. She added that benefit events help maintain national attention long after the headlines fade. “My hope is that this concert—and others like it—keep galvanizing people to give, to stay engaged, and to stand with the people of Jamaica through the long recovery ahead,” she said. As organizers repeated throughout the afternoon, the message was simple. Rebuilding is a global effort, and New York is determined to lead.
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