Ministry Of Labour And Social Security Provides Support To Families Of Quarantined Communities

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security completed its third day of distributing welfare package to the families in the quarantined communities of 7 Miles Bull Bay.

The Ministry began its relief effort on Saturday, March 14, 2020. To date, a total of 900 welfare packages containing basic food supplies, toiletries and personal care items have been distributed to residents in the restricted areas. The Jamaica Red Cross has been assisting the Ministry with the packaging of supplies.

The Ministry has been working closely with Food for the Poor Jamaica, who made a large donation of relief items. Members of the Private Sector Organization (PSOJ) have also made donations to assist the Ministry to respond to the needs of the families.

In an official media briefing held at Jamaica House last Wednesday, Mrs. Colette Roberts Risden, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security disclosed that there are some challenges on the ground, “we do have a number families who want to abuse the system and want to get multiple packages of food,” she said.

Mrs. Risden further added, “we do have enough and the team will be going out tomorrow (March 19) again to continue distribution to any family who did not receive and to also go back to the first set of families who received on Saturday.”

The Ministry of Labour and Social continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and other stakeholders in providing relief to the restricted communities throughout the period of quarantine.