Dear Conference Participants,
Jamaica is now under a Hurricane Warning as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, with sustained winds of 175-180 mph, bears down on the island.
The National Hurricane Center has issued urgent warnings as the storm is forecast to make landfall on Jamaica this morning between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., bringing catastrophic and life-threatening conditions.
Hurricane-force winds began impacting western Jamaica at approximately 8 a.m., and the island is expected to experience 15 to 40 inches of rainfall, catastrophic flash flooding, numerous landslides, storm surge of 9 to 13 feet along the southern coast, and widespread infrastructure damage. This is forecast to be the strongest hurricane on record to strike Jamaica. Given this unprecedented threat to the safety of our guests and the people of Jamaica, we have regrettably postponed the 20th Annual Conference of the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR), scheduled for October 26-29, 2025.
In earlier discussions with our host hotel, Jewel Grande Resort and Spa, Montego Bay, we had tentatively shifted the dates to November 2-6, 2025.
However, Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified to a Category 4-5 storm and is now forecast to make a direct hit on Jamaica shortly. Given this development, the tentative November 2-6 dates now are impractical.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates on the status of Jamaica and the 20th Annual OOCUR Conference as we navigate this extremely trying time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the island and people of Jamaica and all the affected islands of the Caribbean. We pray for God’s grace, protection, and strength for all those in the path of this storm.
Please stay tuned for further updates.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
