Angostura, with the support of the Seprod Foundation in Jamaica, has marked the official handover of the first completed house under their long-term Hurricane Melissa recovery initiative, the company announced Tuesday.
The newly completed house, located in Seaford Town, Westmoreland, Jamaica, was presented to the Simpson-Whyte family, whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. Since the storm, the family had been living in a temporary shelter while awaiting the opportunity to rebuild.
The handover marks the first of four housing interventions to be delivered through the Angostura-sponsored recovery programme, which is currently helping families in Seaford Town and Crawford, St. Elizabeth regain safe, secure housing and rebuild their lives.
Alvin Whyte, the recipient of the house, described the moment as a turning point for his family. “After everything we went through, there were times we wondered if we would ever have a place we can call home again,” he said. “Living in a shelter is difficult, but today our family is turning a new page. We are grateful to Angostura and the Seprod Foundation for giving us the opportunity to start over in a place we can once again call home.”
Lisa D’Oyen, Executive Director of the Seprod Foundation, said the handover embodies the goals of the partnership. “This first home represents exactly what this partnership was created to achieve. Recovery goes beyond replacing what was lost. It is about restoring stability, dignity and hope to families as they rebuild their lives,” she said, adding that the Foundation is proud to ensure recovery reaches families still feeling the effects of the hurricane.
Angostura’s Chairman, Mr. Gary Hunt, said the initiative reflects a broader company commitment to long-term impact. “The road to recovery following Hurricane Melissa requires sustained commitment, meaningful partnerships and a focus on long-term outcomes,” Hunt said. “Through this partnership with the Seprod Foundation, we are investing in more than homes. We are investing in the wellbeing and future of families affected by Hurricane Melissa.”
Angostura’s CEO, Mr. Ian Forbes, echoed that sentiment. “At Angostura, we believe Caribbean communities are strongest when we support one another,” he said. “Seeing this family move from temporary shelter into a safe home is a powerful reminder of the difference collective action can make in people’s lives.”
The housing handover forms part of a broader Angostura and Seprod Foundation Hurricane Melissa recovery programme, structured around three pillars: housing recovery for displaced families, animal welfare support delivered in partnership with the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA), and small business recovery.
Through the initiative, four families are set to receive new homes, twelve shopkeepers and bar owners have already been provided with building materials to repair and reopen their businesses, and ongoing animal welfare efforts continue to support vulnerable dogs in hurricane-affected communities.