WESTERN BUREAU: Three months after Hurricane Beryl tore through Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, Jakes Hotel has reopened its doors, marking not just a return to business but a community’s determination to rebuild. The storm caused extensive damage across the area, halting tourism, fishing, and farming – the three pillars that sustain the local economy. But it also presented an unexpected opportunity for renewal.
The storm knocked down walls, tore off roofs, and left the surrounding landscape strewn with debris, but in doing so, it allowed the hotel’s owners to reimagine and improve key aspects of the property. “We barely paid attention to Jakes for the first few weeks,” admitted Justine Henzell, co-owner of Jakes Hotel. “The priority was the community.
Beryl devastated the area – there was debris everywhere but we were fortunate that all our guests had evacuated safely. The immediate needs were water and shelter for the locals.” Her brother, Jason Henzell, founder of the Treasure Beach Foundation (Breds), mobilised relief efforts with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a global relief agency that delivered essential supplies within days of the hurricane.
As the relief efforts took precedence, the hotel sat idle, but it wasn’t long before the owners turned their attention to rebuilding it with a fresh perspective. Among the improvements, Jakes now boasts updated walls, showers, new lighting, and revamped dining areas. The colour palette throughout the property h.
