Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda will provide financial assistance and deploy soldiers to help Jamaica recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Browne joined fellow CARICOM leaders from Barbados, Grenada and Guyana on a solidarity mission to Jamaica on Monday, where they toured some of the hardest-hit communities.

He said Antigua and Barbuda stands firmly with the Jamaican people, noting that the region understands the toll major storms can take. He referenced Barbuda’s lengthy rebuilding process after Hurricane Irma as evidence that recovery is possible with determination and regional backing.

“I just want to encourage the Jamaican people to soldier on and to carry on, understanding the circumstances, recognizing that we are very resilient people as Caribbean people and that this too shall pass, and to encourage you to rebuild bigger and better,” Browne said.

The prime minister said Antigua and Barbuda’s support will form part of a wider CARICOM effort to help Jamaica restore essential services and assist families affected by the storm.