MoBay’s Chinese donate $2m to Anchovy High to address hurricane damage
Published:Friday | January 30, 2026 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The Chinese community in Montego Bay, St James, recently donated $2 million to Anchovy High School to support restoration work in the aftermath of the damage done to its two campuses during the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which has left several classrooms unusable and hundreds of students displaced.
The donation follows a site visit by Ziping Chen, the chairman of LCH Development, and other members of the Chinese community, whho got a firsthand look at the scale of the destruction. LCH Development is the real estate investment, development and management group, behind the development of Pinnacle, in Montego Bay.
“Here at Anchovy High [Dr Fidel Castro Campus], we see that the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa is very severe,” Yangsen Li, chief executive officer at LCH Developments said. “We checked both campuses, and at the one located in Montpelier the entire roof is gone. We saw laptops, chairs, and tables that were completely destroyed.”
Li explained that the delegation had originally planned to contribute $1 million to assist with repairs at the school’s main campus. However, conditions at the Montpelier campus proved overwhelming.
“We were planning to donate $1 million, but when we saw the condition of the Montpelier campus, it brought tears to our eyes, and immediately we decided to add another million,” he said, during the handing over of the symbolic cheque.
Li acknowledged that the needs across western Jamaica far outweigh available resources, as Hurricane Melissa left a trail of destruction across several western parishes, damaging schools, homes, and public infrastructure.
“A lot of places and people everywhere need help across western Jamaica. We saw so many schools that were damaged,” he said. “No matter how much we give, it is still not enough to meet the level of restoration that is needed for our schools.
“This, however, is our contribution from the Chinese community. We are doing what we can to get the school fixed as quickly as possible so that all the students can return to face-to-face lessons,” he added.
Dr Lavern Stewart, the school’s principal, said the donation was critical as the school struggles to restore full operations and end its reduced teaching schedule.
“We want to say thanks to the members of the Chinese community who have seen it fit to give this donation. We are truly elated because we have an issue that we urgently need to solve, which is getting all our students back in school,” she said.
Stewart further explained that the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa has worsened an already fragile learning environment.
Chairman of the school board, Nigel Golaub, also expressed gratitude, noting that many students remain at home due to unsafe facilities.
“I sincerely thank the Chinese community for assisting us in our time of deep need. Right now, most of the students are at home, and we are trying as quickly as possible to get everybody back in the classroom,” he said. “I really appreciate this gift from the Chinese community to the people of Jamaica, and particularly the children of Anchovy High School.”
Education Officer Dr Shamara Brissett, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, praised the Chinese community’s for its consistent support for schools in Region Four.
“We are truly thankful to our Chinese community. They are one of our chief donors, and we appreciate everything they do for education here in Region Four,” she said. “As we bounce back better, we will continue to hold hands and ensure that education stays at the forefront. We are happy for this contribution, and I am sure the school community and our children in the region will benefit.”