St. James Municipal Corporation Committed To Combatting COVID-19

Montego Bay Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis, says the St. James Municipal Corporation, which he chairs, remains resolute in the quest to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the parish.

He told JIS News that a number of safeguards and health protocols have been instituted to protect citizens.

“We started some weeks ago [and] we took on the task of really doing a deep cleaning of the Charles Gordon market [and are continuing that]. We did a washing [down of] Sam Sharpe Square and other adjoining streets, and it is an ongoing process. At the Municipal Corporation, we are observing all the safety practices as it relates to hygiene,” he stated.

Mayor Davis also informed that the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has allocated $5 million dollars to truck water to communities that are without piped water, as part of the COVID-19 safeguards.

He further expressed gratitude to the Government for the $140 million allocated to each Councillor to assist persons in their divisions who have been affected by the virus.

“We have also been given special allocations by the Minister of Local Government [Hon. Desmond McKenzie] and, for this, I must say a big thank you on behalf of the Councillors at the St. James Municipal Corporation. So come this week or the following week, they [residents] will start receiving gift packages from their respective Councillors,” the Mayor informed.

Meanwhile, Councillor Davis is urging residents across the parish to adhere to the measures announced by Government to contain the spread of COVID-19.

He warned that failure by individuals to obey the strict protocols, among them nightly curfews, now underway, and social distancing, would result in an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in St. James.

“I need for citizens to take the advice of the Ministry of Health and Wellness… of all government agencies seriously [and] maintain social distancing… we need to adopt those principles. There is a curfew that commences at 8:00 p.m. each night, and I encourage everyone to go out early, do your business, and get back home to make sure your families are safe. This is the only way we will restrict the spread of the COVID-19,” Mayor Davis emphasized.