In an effort to help families continue rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa, the Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries (JMOM) and the Sean Paul Foundation have teamed up to stage the Bluefields Rising: Health & Recovery Fair, a free, two-day community recovery initiative. The event will take place on August 22 and August 23 at Belmont Academy in Bluefields, Westmoreland. 

Designed to restore livelihoods, strengthen food security, and support the long-term recovery of one of Westmoreland’s hardest-hit communities, the fair is expected to draw up to 700 residents per day from approximately 10 districts in Bluefields.

With the assistance of International Medical Relief (IMR), a US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to providing healthcare to underserved and vulnerable communities around the world, residents will have access to health and wellness services, identity and access services, and targeted livelihood restoration support.

The event was initiated by veteran reggae singer and humanitarian Judy Mowatt, whose Outreach Ministries has been at the forefront of relief and recovery efforts in Westmoreland since the storm. Mowatt reached out directly to the Sean Paul Foundation, citing the Foundation’s sustained and visible commitment to hurricane-affected communities across the island as the catalyst for the collaboration.

According to Mowatt, success for the initiative would not simply be measured by the number of people served, but by the impact it has on their overall well-being.

“Success, to me, means people are healed in their body, soul, and spirit. People need not be walking around with an unhealthy mind, an unhealthy body, and an unhealthy spirit. That is very toxic, and it’s not good for any human being. I want them to be nourished in their mind, soul and spirit,” Mowatt expressed.

Reggae icon and global ambassador Sean Paul, whose foundation has been active on the ground in communities across Jamaica since Hurricane Melissa made landfall, is throwing the full weight of his organisation behind the initiative—providing both financial support and logistical resources, including volunteers who will be deployed across the two days of the fair.

“One thing Hurricane Melissa showed us is how strong Jamaicans can be when we come together. When one community is hurting, all of us have a part to play in helping it recover. We have been supporting families since the disaster happened because rebuilding takes time. So, partnering with Judy and her team was not a hard decision to make. It gives us another chance—a 360-degree approach—to give back in a meaningful way,” Sean Paul said. 

He continued, “We hope everyone who comes out leaves feeling supported and encouraged to continue their rebuilding journey and for the children to feel better equipped to take on the new school year.”

The fair is anchored by three core pillars — Health and Wellness, Access and Identity Services, and Livelihood Restoration and Food Security. 

According to organisers, the Bluefields community is made up predominantly of farmers and fishermen, along with other food producers and small-scale agricultural operators, including poulterers and beekeepers. The vast majority have yet to fully resume operations following Hurricane Melissa, which severely devastated the local food production system, damaging farms, destroying fishing equipment and livestock, and disrupting the livelihoods of many families who depend on agriculture and fishing. This impact was compounded by the fact that many were already operating with limited resources and still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Beryl in 2024. 

Through the Livelihood Restoration and Food Security component, spearheaded by the Sean Paul Foundation, affected producers will receive targeted recovery support, including seeds, fishing equipment, livestock, tools, and practical training aimed at helping them return to sustainable, income-generating activity.

The event will officially open at 9:00 AM on Saturday, August 22, and close on Sunday, August 23, with a gospel concert beginning at 6:00 PM, bringing together community leaders, government representatives, donors, and partners to mark the occasion and signal to the people of Bluefields that they have not been forgotten.

The Bluefields Rising: Health & Recovery Fair is open to residents of the 10 districts of Bluefields, who are encouraged to register in advance at BluefieldsRising.com. On-site registration assistance will also be available for anyone who needs help completing the process. Daily registration closes at 4:00 PM.