Opposition takes issue with relocation plan for hurricane victims at Petersfield High

 

The government's relocation plan for Hurricane victims sheltering at the Petersfield High School in Westmoreland has not found favour with the opposition.

 

The plan was outlined to the residents last week by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, who indicated that the shelter will close at the end of this month to allow school administrators to clean up and be ready for the new school term in January. 

 

Mr. McKenzie said a number of temporary options will be used while permanent repairs and rebuilding are carried out, which include housing the elderly at the infirmary, supporting new rental arrangements and establishing a temporary housing site at the nearby playfield using tents. 

 

But Opposition Spokesperson on Housing and Sustainable Living, Senator Professor Floyd Morris, is not satisfied that relocation plan has the right mix of solutions to assist the 185 residents at the shelter. 

 

Professor Morris said housing residents in tents on the school's playfield would be inhumane and an affront to the dignity of the displaced residents. 

 

"The playfield is subject to flooding from time to time. I would suggest to the government a three-pronged approach wherein they would find appropriate holding area for these residents. Second, they would look for those residents who have houses where they can effect repairs and the government would provide building materials for them and get the JDF, their engineering core, to assist these individuals with repairs to the houses," he proposed.

 

For those residents who do not have any form of shelter, Professor Morris said the government should provide a more sustainable solution for them.