Odane McKenzie’s quiet fight to rebuild after Melissa - Sean Paul Foundation lends support

When Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica's south coast last October, it left more than shattered boards and uprooted zinc in its wake. For 37-year-old mason Odane McKenzie, of Bath in Westmoreland, it dismantled the very foundation of life - his home, his sense of stability, and his peace of mind.

Born on November 19, McKenzie says he barely acknowledged his most recent birthday. "I was traumatised ... I am traumatised."

Melissa was unlike any storm he had ever experienced. "Ivan come when I was about 14 or 15, but it never really affected my family. Beryl...last year, never really damaged anything for me. Melissa ... this is the worst one," he said.

After the hurricane passed, a dazed McKenzie stood amid the wreckage of what was once his house, beaten down emotionally and physically, and standing quite literally in the dirt.

"I lose everything - my house, my bed, my clothes are all soiled and muddy to the point of no coming back, tools ... everything," McKenzie said.

With no roof over his head, he sought refuge in what he describes as a "show house" - a small space where members of the community would gather to watch television. Makeshift bamboo supports were erected just so they can sit together and feel some sense of normalcy. A few people shared the space but it was never meant to be permanent.

A mason by profession, McKenzie learned his trade hands-on, working alongside experienced tradesmen on construction sites, and he has been lending his hands in Bath to help with the rebuilding. Paid work in the community has come to a standstill and, like many others, he is unemployed, relying on neighbours and friends to help him survive.

RESILIENCE

The emotional toll has been heavy. McKenzie admits he struggled deeply in the weeks following the disaster, visiting the doctor twice for anxiety and shock. For days, he barely spoke and could hardly eat.

Still, McKenzie's story is not only one of devastation, but also one of quiet resilience and unexpected kindness. That turning point came through the intervention of Audi Bacchas, a dental nurse who has dedicated much of the past year to philanthropy and community rebuilding. Bacchas, who lives in Mandeville, was spending time in Bath with her mother when she learned of McKenzie's situation.

"He lived right there in Bath where my mother lives and I knew we had to do something," Bacchas shared.

Through her efforts, McKenzie received building supplies from the Sean Paul Foundation, which has been visiting communities across Jamaica's south coast, delivering relief packages and hardware items to aid in the rebuilding process. With support from Trevor Junior Bacchas, who helped with the labour, McKenzie was finally able to begin putting his life back together - using a few salvaged boards from the hurricane's destruction and the new materials from the foundation. Among his most urgent needs are basic items including clothes, a mattress, and materials such as Celotex insulation boards for his ceiling.

"I really appreciate it," McKenzie said, offering special thanks to Sean Paul and everyone who supported the rebuilding effort. "Big thanks to the artiste and his team. It mean everything to me to be able to start 2026 in a house."

Christmas Day marked a quiet but meaningful milestone. For the first time since the storm, McKenzie has a space that feels like home again, a place where his healing can begin. McKenzie is holding on. He hopes work will resume, that he can regain his footing as a mason.