Alternative location found for shelter residents at Petersfield High

 

The Ministry of Local Government says it has found an alternative location behind Petersfield High School in Westmoreland to relocate the 50 residents being housed at the institution. 

 

Earlier this month, the residents were told that they must prepare to relocate by the end of December, as the institution begins its cleanup ahead of the January school term.

 

On Tuesday, the anxious residents, who insisted that they were not leaving the shelter until authorities offered them a viable place to relocate, told Radio Jamaica News that they had nowhere to go.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, Minister Desmond McKenzie said there is no truth to reports that the government is moving to evict the Hurricane Melissa evacuees from the shelter.

 

Mr. McKenzie said his ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Education, and works are already advanced to relocate the residents.

 

"We have found an alternative location on the grounds of the school, behind the school where we are now doing some temporary work to allow those persons in the shelter to go into that location. Already, there are persons who have been using it and we are going to be doing some work to ensure that the 50 persons - and it is only 50 persons - that are presently at Petersfield shelter [can relocate]."

 

In a statement Wednesday, Member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland, Dwayne Vaz, had said the shelter was currently housing more than 50 families, 86 individuals, including 46 children. 

 

Mr. Vaz expressed concern that up to Wednesday morning, many residents had not been informed of alternative accommodation.

 

But Minister McKenzie said a team from Food For The Poor and a team from the ministry were in Petersfield on Wednesday, assessing locations to install temporary housing solutions.

 

"This government of Dr. Andrew Holness is caring. We understand; we have listened to the persons. We will not be putting out anyone in any shelters in the five parishes that have been affected until we have put down the necessary things in place, and we are well advanced in providing the solutions that [are] required," he declared, insisting that any information to the contrary is simply mischief.