‘I can’t leave them’: Alberta man urges Ottawa to fast-track visas for his Jamaican family after deadly hurricane

Derek Boyle is asking Ottawa to fast-track visas for his pregnant partner and stepson, after their house was destroyed by Hurricane Melissa.

Communities across Jamaica continue to sift through what’s left after Hurricane Melissa’s deadly destruction, as officials assess the damage left behind by one of the most powerful storms to strike the island nation in years.

Official reports confirm at least 19 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands are without power. Among those affected is Derek Boyle, a Canadian who lives part time in Montego Bay with his pregnant Jamaican partner and stepson. Their home was hit by the storm.

“There were moments where I’ve honestly never been so scared in my life, and I didn’t know what was going to happen next,” Boyle said.

“The area where we were living — it’s hard to explain — it’s just flattened.”

Rescuers and aid workers fanned out across Jamaica on Saturday, including members of the Canadian Red Cross.

Chiran Livera, an operations lead with the organization, said crews are distributing about 18,000 relief items, including shelter kits, blankets and hygiene parcels.

“They’ll be landing later today, and they’ll be distributed in the coming days throughout the country,” Livera said.

As supplies arrive, some Canadians in Jamaica — like Boyle — are trying to leave.

Boyle can return to Canada, but his partner and stepson cannot due to immigration issues.

“As a father, I’m trying to protect my family the best I can,” he said.

“I can’t leave here until they can come back with me.”

Sophia Pereira, with Bastion Immigration Consulting in Toronto, said that for privacy reasons she can’t get into the details of Boyle’s case, but immigration processes can still take time, even in emergencies.

“We understand it may be stressful and frustrating, but with everything, there is a process,” she said.

Given the urgency, Boyle is asking Ottawa to expedite his family’s applications.

“I’m reaching out to the Canadian government — please approve my stepson’s visa, my girlfriend’s visa, and for my unborn son,” he pleaded.

For now, Boyle and his family are staying in a hotel in Kingston, where they plan to remain for at least a week.