UK travel agent helps with Hurricane Melissa clean-up in Jamaica

A UK travel agent staying in Jamaica on holiday has helped with clean-up of the resort she was staying in after Hurricane Melissa hit the island this week.

Tania Nash, who owns Well and Truly Travel, and her husband were staying at Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios to celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary along with a group of their friends.

Nash told Travel Weekly: “We volunteered straight away to help clear all the branches and leaves scattered everywhere.

“We have been getting in the pools and removing the debris there as they were full.

“All the sunbeds were placed in the pools Sunday for safety, and everything was boarded up on Saturday, so it was pretty hot and stuffy for a few days to say the least.”

She said their group were “very nervous” ahead of the hurricane hitting the island, but “thankfully” the eye of the storm moved away not long before.

Nash said they stayed in one of their rooms with emergency food supplies waiting out the storm.

She said their group was “pretty exhausted mentally” and physically tired after the experience, so were now taking some time to relax.

Nash praised the work of Sandals and its staff to look after its customers, adding: “Sandals are doing amazing job looking after their customers.

“The spirit of the people is incredible and the staff have fully integrated with the guests on every level and they are very special people, and the general manager Carol Bourke formed a special bond with us too.”

She added the resort was now “understandably” running on limited services and communications were also limited, leading her to hotspot from someone’s phone.

Nash said she had had “real trouble” getting flights back to the UK, but was hoping to get repatriation flights through the government scheme.

If those do not materialise, then four friends are booked on a flight going back via Miami, and she and her husband will travel via Toronto on Monday (November 3).

Earlier on October 30, it was announced Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, one of Jamaica’s two international airports would reopen following the passing of the hurricane.

Nash added: “Today is like it never happened, it is truly remarkable.

“But obviously we appreciate the rest of the island has not been so lucky. However all the staff here are safe along with their families and their beloved pets, which they tell you all about fondly.”