McKenzie: All hurricane shelter residents moved out of schools

Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie says the Government has met its May 8 deadline to relocate all persons previously housed in school shelters following Hurricane Melissa last October. 

“A commitment was given that by the 8th of May, persons occupying schools or shelters would be relocated. I’m pleased to announce that we have met the deadline,” McKenzie said on Thursday, one day before the deadline. 

He said all schools used as emergency shelters have now been cleared, with remaining families moved into alternative accommodation, including temporary housing solutions and other arrangements.

McKenzie, however, raised concern that some individuals were allegedly discouraging shelter residents from accepting relocation options.

“We’re seeing it being played out in Petersfield in Westmoreland where all the shelterees have made their move except three families,” he said. “And those three families we are expecting by the end of the day to be relocated.”

He also criticised what he described as inaccurate or misleading media coverage, referencing footage circulated showing shelter sites before they were made habitable.

“There are pictures going around in the media and I’m disappointed with some of our television stations that they carry footage of the location before the work commenced to make it habitable,” he said.

McKenzie argued that such portrayals were undermining public confidence in the relocation effort.

“It is unfortunate that some people in the society want this effort to fail,” he said, adding that the Government remained focused on completing the recovery programme.

He disclosed that one individual at Petersfield High School, initially resistant to relocation, was transported to medical care before being transferred to the Westmoreland Infirmary following an assessment.

McKenzie said modular housing units were now being installed in western Jamaica as part of a transition to more stable accommodation.

“What we are moving them to now is temporary holding which is far better than where they were at the school,” he said.

The relocation exercise follows weeks of concern from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), which has criticised the prolonged use of school facilities as shelters, warning that it was disrupting teaching and learning and placing additional strain on school operations.

JTA President Mark Malabver had urged the authorities to expedite the removal of shelterees to restore normal school function.

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