Hanover Parish Council Distributes Foodstuff to Needy Persons

The Hanover Parish Council has distributed over 1,500 packages of foodstuff to persons in shelters and others in need since the passage of Hurricane Ivan. Secretary/Manager of the Council, Alfred Graham, told JIS News that care was taken to ensure that the items were distributed equitably and only to those most in need.
Of the 3,000 persons that sought refuge from the onslaught of Hurricane Ivan, only 28 still remained in shelters, Mr. Graham informed. There are three persons at the Dias Clinic and two families consisting of 25 persons, are occupying the Principal’s cottage at the Middlesex Primary School.
He said that discussions continued with a view to finding alternative accommodation for these persons, as their homes were totally destroyed by the hurricane. The three persons occupying the clinic would be moved to a tent today (Sept. 22), while those at the school would be relocated soon, he told JIS News. A total of 63 shelters were opened in the parish, inclusive of 28 schools.
Meanwhile, the Secretary/Manager said that about 95 per cent of the blocked roads have now been cleared, with some accommodating only one lane of traffic. He said the main roads were being cleared by the National Works Agency (NWA).
Mr. Graham lauded the work of the parish’s Emergency Operating Committee in ensuring the effective operation of the emergency system before, during and after the hurricane. “I can say that we have been quite successful, and we have been quite effective in managing the whole process”, he stated.
He made special mention of the assistance rendered by the Parish Councillors and personnel from the Jamaica Red Cross, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and the Ministry of Health.