Plantation Cove on the mend

With several sections of St Ann lashed by Hurricane Melissa, Vonni Koromanti Meikle, corporate affairs and compliance manager at Plantation Cove, assured fans that the venue will be ready for booked upcoming events.

"We have [had] eight intense days of work already. Our trailers are back up and we're open for business. So yes, we are building back and we're ready for our intense holiday season which tends to start around the third week of November to the first week of January," Koromanti Meikle told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"The sea came over and caused some infrastructural damages, some of our lines and poles were down, but they are back up. We have some damages to the sea wall and we've repaired that, along with some minor property damage," said Koromanti Meikle.

"We have prior bookings and those customers have not cancelled, so it's our duty to ensure that the venue is in top-top shape for November to January and beyond, and we're well on our way to do so," she said.

Though she was unable to assess the cost for repair yet, Koromanti Meikle assured fans that it will "definitely not" be a burden to their pockets.

However, she said the venue was geared to first be a hub to serve and support its communities in the hurricane's aftermath. Plans have already been made to host its first Hurricane Melissa relief efforts this weekend.

"Starting this weekend, Plantation Cove will function as a hub for our different partners [charity owner and Plantation Cove's technical director] Arjune Bewley, of Bewley's Box," Koromanti Meikle said. The charitable group hosts a Christmas event annually for the elderly, but Bewley has fast-tracked it for this weekend and several to come.

Koromanti Meikle also outlined that Starlink services will provide electricity and Internet for people within the affected communities. Plantation Cove will also be joining forces with Best Weekend Ever and WeVacae to distribute food, water, sanitary supplies and toiletries among other items to residents from the hub. This initiative is expected to extend up to several weeks heading into the busy period.