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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, gives a gift to a child during a Christmas treat held at the Petersfield High School in Westmoreland on December 13. Also present was Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (background, second left).
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, gives a gift to a child during a Christmas treat held at the Petersfield High School in Westmoreland on December 13. Also present was Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (background, second left).

Home Repair Grants to Be Given in January

The Government is to commence the distribution of home repair grants in January, says Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. He made the disclosure during a Christmas treat held at the Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, recently. Dr....
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right), participates in the presentation of a cheque valued at $2,200,000, representing the Assistive Aid Grant and the Margaret Moody Scholarship. Joining him (from left) are Chairperson of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) Social and Economic Empowerment Committee, Gloria Goffe-Smallwood; Communications Advisor to the Minister, Rochelle Mitchell; JCPD Acting Executive Director, Desreen Boothe; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dione Jennings. The presentation took place during the Handover Ceremony for the Assistive Aid Grant and the Margaret Moody Scholarship at the JCPD Head Office in Kingston on Tuesday (December 16).
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (second right), participates in the presentation of a cheque valued at $2,200,000, representing the Assistive Aid Grant and the Margaret Moody Scholarship. Joining him (from left) are Chairperson of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) Social and Economic Empowerment Committee, Gloria Goffe-Smallwood; Communications Advisor to the Minister, Rochelle Mitchell; JCPD Acting Executive Director, Desreen Boothe; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dione Jennings. The presentation took place during the Handover Ceremony for the Assistive Aid Grant and the Margaret Moody Scholarship at the JCPD Head Office in Kingston on Tuesday (December 16).

Seven Persons Receive Grants from the JCPD
Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Audrey Deer-Williams.
Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Audrey Deer-Williams.

More Than 50,000 Damage Assessments Completed to Date
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), is joined by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (third left), as they greet residents of Black River in St. Elizabeth at the ‘Solidarity Live: Community Engagement’ event, at Dunn’s Auto World, Black River, St. Elizabeth, on December 12.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), is joined by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (third left), as they greet residents of Black River in St. Elizabeth at the ‘Solidarity Live: Community Engagement’ event, at Dunn’s Auto World, Black River, St. Elizabeth, on December 12.

Thousands of Vulnerable Jamaicans to Benefit from Solidarity Programme
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., distributes gifts during the Prime Minister’s Christmas Treat at the Petersfield High School shelter in Westmoreland on Saturday (December 13).
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., distributes gifts during the Prime Minister’s Christmas Treat at the Petersfield High School shelter in Westmoreland on Saturday (December 13).

Specialised Teams Mobilised to Bolster Post-Hurricane Recovery and Safeguard Vulnerable Groups

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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses Wednesday’s (December 10) Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.
LabourSocial Security

Disaster Self-Reporting Form Now Available Online

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Disaster Self-Reporting Form, which enables householders to submit information on Hurricane Melissa’s damage, is now available online. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., shared that it was developed out of the lessons learnt from Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Addressing Wednesday's (December 10) Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House, he explained that when assessors...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses Wednesday’s (December 10) post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.
LabourSocial Security

$225 Million Spent to Purchase Food for Hurricane Victims

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., is reporting that $225.1 million has been spent on procuring food for the Hurricane Melissa emergency response up to December 9. The category-five hurricane dealt a devastating blow to western Jamaica on October 28. “It includes $52 million spent pre-hurricane in terms of purchases of food that were pre-positioned across...
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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), speaks to residents sheltering at Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, during a visit to the location on Wednesday (December 3).
Labour

Minister Outlines Relocation Plan for Residents Housed at Petersfield High School

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has outlined a structured relocation plan for residents of Petersfield, Westmoreland who are currently being housed at Petersfield High School, following the destruction of their homes by Hurricane Melissa. Speaking with the displaced residents during a visit to the school on December 3, the Minister emphasised that the school must...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (left), addresses a public forum at the Kingston Summit business complex on Wednesday (December 3) to mark International Day for Persons with Disabilities 2025, observed under the theme ‘Rebuilding an Accessible Jamaica for All’. Also pictured (from second left) are Executive Member of the Jamaica Association of Architects, Sana Williams; Executive Director of the Jamaica Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Marilyn McKoy; and forum panellist, Alister McLean.
LabourSocial Security

Gov’t Reaffirms Commitment to Advancing Disability Inclusion

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., has reaffirmed the Government’s firm commitment to advancing disability inclusion. He noted that accessibility and equal participation must remain central to Jamaica’s national development agenda. The Minister was addressing a public forum at the Kingston Summit business complex on Wednesday (December 3), to mark the International Day for Persons with...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., speaks at a press conference on disaster response post Hurricane Melissa, held on Thursday (November 20), at the Ministry
LabourSocial Security

Ministry Sets Up Oversight Committee to Coordinate Welfare Help for Team Members

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has set up an Oversight Committee to coordinate welfare interventions for team members impacted by hurricane Melissa. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure during a press briefing held at the Ministry’s North Street offices in Kingston, on November 20. He said the committee will ensure that the activities are transparent,...
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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addresses a press conference on disaster response post Hurricane Melissa, held on Thursday (November 20), at the Ministry
LabourSocial Security

No ID Required for Relief Support

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., is reiterating that no identification is required for persons to receive Hurricane Melissa relief support. “No one will be turned away from receiving a benefit because of a lack of documents… that is a Ministry policy. However, it is not difficult for us to appreciate that we want to have...
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