Jamaicans living overseas are raising fresh concerns about what happened to millions of dollars donated to help Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa.

The issue has resurfaced after diaspora leaders pushed back against claims that Jamaicans abroad had not complained about the slow use of the funds.

According to the Jamaica Observer, diaspora advocate Irwine Clare Sr said he has heard growing concern about how hurricane donations have been handled. He said many Jamaicans overseas believe there is a trust issue when it comes to how donations sent by the diaspora are managed, and that people want greater transparency and accountability. Jamaica Observer

And when you look at the numbers, it is easy to understand why people are asking questions.

A report from Jamaica’s Auditor General found that ODPEM had received approximately J$1.44 billion in cash donations for Hurricane Melissa relief. But as of February 23, 2026, only about J$26.2 million — roughly 1.8 percent — had actually been spent. Jamaica Observer

That means the vast majority of those donated funds had still not been disbursed months after the hurricane devastated parts of Jamaica.

The audit also showed that approximately J$569.6 million and US$5.9 million remained in ODPEM’s Jamaican and U.S. donation accounts at the time of the review. Jamaica Gleaner

So naturally, Jamaicans overseas are asking a very simple question:

If people donated this money specifically to help hurricane victims, why was so little of it being used months later?

This became even more controversial after Permanent Secretary Sheila Sealy Monteith told a parliamentary committee that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not received any indication that confidence in Jamaica’s ability to manage international support had declined. Jamaica Observer

But several diaspora representatives say that does not mean people are satisfied.

Former Global Jamaica Diaspora Council representative Dr Karren Dunkley warned against assuming that the absence of formal complaints means there is no concern. She said she has heard from Jamaicans around the world who are worried about both the pace of recovery and the amount of assistance still reaching people who need it. Jamaica Observer

And this is where the bigger issue comes in.

When Jamaicans overseas hear about a hurricane devastating communities back home, many of them respond immediately.

People send money.

They organise fundraisers.

Churches collect donations.

Community groups ship supplies.

Families send whatever they can.

And most people do that believing their contribution is going to reach somebody who desperately needs help.

So if months later, an official audit reveals that less than two percent of the donated cash had been spent at that point, people are obviously going to want an explanation.

Now, to be fair, the Government has argued that hurricane recovery spending extends far beyond the donated funds themselves.

Government Senator Marlon Morgan pointed out that more than J$11 billion was being spent across hundreds of Hurricane Melissa relief and recovery contracts, meaning the donated money represented only one part of the wider recovery effort. Jamaica Gleaner

ODPEM also said earlier this year that its low utilisation of the donated funds was linked to the absence of authorisation from the Ministry of Finance to spend them. Jamaica Gleaner

So the question is not necessarily whether Jamaica spent money on hurricane recovery.

The real question is why money specifically donated by Jamaicans and supporters overseas remained largely untouched for so long.

And there were other concerns in the audit as well.

The Auditor General reported that J$34 million worth of roofing materials could not be properly verified because signed delivery documentation was missing, while another J$141.1 million in committed expenditure lacked confirmed payment documentation at the time of the audit. Jamaica Observer

Those findings do not automatically mean money was stolen or misused, but they do raise legitimate questions about record keeping, oversight and how quickly assistance was reaching affected Jamaicans.

And that is really what diaspora leaders appear to be asking for.

Not accusations.

Not speculation.

Just transparency.

How much money was received?

How much has now been spent?

Where did it go?

Which communities benefited?

And what is preventing the remaining funds from being used?

Because if Jamaicans overseas are expected to continue supporting the country whenever the next disaster happens, maintaining that trust is extremely important.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025 as a Category 5 storm and caused widespread destruction, particularly across western and southern sections of the island. Auditor General’s Department

Almost a year later, some communities are still dealing with the consequences of that disaster.

And Jamaicans overseas who opened their wallets to help are now making it clear that they want to see exactly how that generosity was turned into assistance on the ground.

So what do you think?

Should the Government provide a detailed public breakdown showing exactly where every dollar of the hurricane donations has gone?

And if donated funds are still sitting unused while Jamaicans are still struggling to rebuild, should there be a faster system for getting that money directly to affected families?

Those are the questions many Jamaicans in the diaspora are now asking.