Nelson A. King (Caribbean Life) writes about efforts by reggae and dancehall stars to continue bringing relief to Jamaica after the ravages of Hurricane Melissa. Richie Stephens and others have been working on the ground to do what they can for theor communities. Also, on December 12, 2025, there will be an “I Love Jamaica” Hurricane Relief Charity Concert at the UBS Arena in Queens, New York, to raise funds. Performers will include Stephens, Shaggy, Inner Circle, Kes the Band, TOK, and others. Here are excerpts.
Jamaican music ambassador Richie Stephens is among dozens of reggae and dancehall stars, including Vybz Kartel, Shaggy, Popcaan, Spice, Romain Virgo, Buju Banton, and Mavado, who have contributed time and money to support relief efforts to benefit Jamaicans at home whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Melissa, which ravaged western Jamaica on Oct. 28.
At least 32 people reportedly lost their lives as a result of the hurricane, and the roofs of an estimated 120,000 structures were torn off, with up to 90 % of buildings in the parishes of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth impacted.
Jamaican-born, New York-based entertainment specialist Anthony “ER Guru” Turner told Caribbean Life on Monday, Nov. 11, that Stephens, a long-time philanthropist, returned over the weekend to Russia in Westmoreland, where he grew up as a child, with a mission: “to bring comfort, supplies, and hope to residents devastated by Hurricane Melissa.”
For Stephens, whose roots in the community run deep, the journey was personal. “Hurricane Melissa devastated the entire western Jamaica,” Stephens told Caribbean Life. “As a Westmoreland man, I have to kind of just pay more attention to my parish. So, I immediately started raising funds donated by my friends in New York, Florida, Canada, and the UK, and I used some of my personal funds to purchase thousands of care packages.” [. . .]
Stephens said one moment particularly stayed with him. “A lady came up to me and said, ‘Richie, I don’t live anywhere now. I don’t have a house again.’ “How do you fathom what she’s going through?” he asked. “This is a woman in her 60s. All her life, she’s been living comfortably, and woke up one morning and everything was gone.”
Despite the heartbreak, Stephens stressed the resilience of Jamaicans. “As bad as things are, the people don’t look as bad as the situation,” he said. “Everybody is still full of vibes; we’re naturally strong people.”
Looking ahead, Stephens said he is committed to continuing relief efforts. [. . .] He said that his commitment will be on full display when he joins Shaggy, Inner Circle, Kes the Band, TOK, and other reggae luminaries at the “I Love Jamaica” Hurricane Relief Charity Concert at the UBS Arena in Queens on Dec. 12, 2025.
“It’s another opportunity to do my best to help my Jamaican people under pressure,” Stephens said. “I have a lot of respect for Shaggy—he’s always there to help.
“The lineup is very strong, and I’m looking forward to being part of the show,” he added.
For full article, see https://www.caribbeanlife.com/richie-stephens-reggae-stars-bring-relief-to-jamaica-in-aftermath-of-hurricane-melissa/
[Photo above courtesy Richie Stephens/Pot of Gold.]
Nelson A. King (Caribbean Life) writes about efforts by reggae and dancehall stars to continue bringing relief to Jamaica after the ravages of Hurricane Melissa. Richie Stephens and others have been working on the ground to do what they can for theor communities. Also, on December 12, 2025, there will be an “I Love Jamaica”
