Labour Ministry Mobilises Emergency Response Teams

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Alvin McIntosh, says that all the Ministry’s offices island wide have been mobilised to work with the various emergency response agencies to assist persons affected by the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole.
In an interview with JIS News, Mr. McIntosh, said the immediate need was to organise shelter for displaced persons and providing bedding, food and other basic supplies for the shelters.
“We have supplies in store in Kingston and each parish has been allocated a certain amount of money to make purchases from local wholesale dealers, supermarket operators and grocers. So, the teams are in operation out there and I think they will be able to respond to the immediate needs of persons who have been affected,” he said.
Mr. McIntosh explained that the expenditure is from the Ministry’s budget as allocations were made for eventualities such as the current weather challenges.
The Permanent Secretary said that as soon as the weather permits, the Ministry’s officers will carry out a detailed assessment of the damage and look at ways in which the Ministry can render further assistance.
The island has been drenched with rain since the start of the week as Tropical Storm Nicole makes its way across the Caribbean, displacing several Jamaicans and even proving fatal in some instances.