Labour Ministry Distributing Food and Care Packages
By: May 19, 2017 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson, following a tour of worst-affected communities in St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. Ann on Wednesday (May 16).
- Jamaica has been experiencing persistent rainfall over the past three days.
The Full Story
Teams from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security have been distributing food and care packages to persons in some communities, who were severely impacted by the recent heavy rains.
This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson, following a tour of worst-affected communities in St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. Ann on Wednesday (May 16).
She informed that persons will also be assisted with mattresses, two-burner stoves and a cash grant. “(I) can’t say how much that is (because) it depends on the severity of the damage, but we are certain of it and we are doing our part,” Mrs. Robinson said.
She noted that the Government will continue to work to provide assistance to persons marooned in communities, and will be working with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to airlift food to inaccessible areas.
The Labour Minister joined Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, on the tour of severely affected parishes.
Among the communities visited were Sunnyside in Linstead, St. Catherine; Douglas Castle, St. Ann; and Cave Valley, which is located at the border between St. Ann and Clarendon.
The Prime Minister, who was in the Dominican Republic on an official visit, had cut short his trip to return to the island.
Jamaica has been experiencing persistent rainfall over the past three days.
The parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. Mary, Portland, and St. Ann have been severely impacted.