Belmont Pastry strives to rise again

Hurricane Melissa delivered a double blow to many residents of western Jamaica, damaging or destroying both homes and businesses and leaving recovery stalled in an uneasy limbo.

Delbert Rodney of Belmont, Westmoreland, is among those still struggling to regain their footing. Three months after the Category 5 storm tore through the area, Rodney is trying to recover — not only from the devastation of his property, but from the shock of seeing some of the very people he knew before Melissa loot his shop in the immediate aftermath.

“I want to highlight a man whose service, sacrifice, and commitment have shaped Belmont and the Bluefields Bay area for decades, Mr Delbert Rodney. Delbert is not just one of the thousands whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa. He is among those who suffered a double blow, severe hurricane damage, and, further losses from looters who exploited his vulnerability,” said Keith Wedderburn, a businessman and justice of the peace in the area, speaking with The Gleaner.

The loss of Rodney’s business, Belmont Pastry, has been the more painful of the two blows. What began as a small bakery operating as Tan Tan Top Pastry had grown into a one-stop establishment offering groceries, liquor, hardware items, household goods and more. Through this enterprise, Rodney became a fixture in Belmont. He opened early and closed late, seven days a week, including public holidays. He earned a reputation as a reliable employer who treated his staff with dignity, supported local projects, assisted those in need, and helped keep the community functioning.

“I felt devastated, since I have been working so hard to achieve my goals. I felt like I had hit rock bottom,” Rodney told The Gleaner, reflecting on the moment he realised the full extent of the damage to his home and business.

Wedderburn said Rodney’s true legacy extends beyond bricks and shelves. “However, Delbert’s true legacy is not just his business, it’s the lives he touched through employment. He has constantly provided stable jobs for a strong team of staff, creating opportunities for families who relied on him to earn a living. Today, those employees and their families are also suffering, as their primary source of income has been shattered,” he said.

The appeal, Wedderburn stressed, is about more than material recovery. “Supporting Delbert isn’t just about restoring a business. It’s about restoring hope, protecting livelihoods, and standing up for a true community pillar. If we act now, we can help him return bigger, better, stronger, and ensure that his employees and their families are not left behind … . Let’s not allow this pillar of the community to fall. Despite heavy losses from Hurricane Melissa and further setbacks from looting, Delbert Rodney has reopened his business with a small stock and a skeleton staff.

“That decision alone speaks volumes. This is resilience. This is courage. We are calling on community members to shop with Delbert, suppliers and distributors to offer support, and friends near and far to stand with one of our own. Every purchase, every referral, every show of support helps keep livelihoods alive and hope intact. Let’s not wait until it’s too late to show appreciation. Let’s act together.”

Rodney said his greatest need now is the full restoration of Belmont Pastry and the ability to “intensify the business capabilities to its former state”. In terms of overall recovery, he admitted he is not yet “really anywhere significant”, noting that he hopes to replace the makeshift structure from which he is currently operating with something stronger and more permanent.

editorial@gleanerjm.com