KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment of Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, says help is coming for a family of women who are living in extremely challenging circumstances in St Elizabeth.

The family came to national attention after one of its members — a 15-year-old girl— was allegedly sexually abused by a member of the clergy, in a case that is now before the court. 

Minister Grange — accompanied by representatives of several support agencies and Member of Parliament for South Eastern St Elizabeth, Franklyn Witter — visited the women on Thursday after hearing of their plight.

The minister observed the women and children living in an uncompleted and unsecured two bedroom house, which is in need of repair.  

“Everything is being treated as extremely urgent,” said Grange as she gave an assurance that the government is addressing the needs of the family.

 “In consultation with [the women], we’ve come up with a plan as to how we’re going to provide them with the necessary support and to assist them in getting their lives on track,” she added.

The plan includes relocation of the women and children.  Prior to yesterday’s visit, Grange had been in discussions with Food for the Poor regarding plans for new accommodation.

“Food for the Poor is providing them with housing solutions and we will ensure that they are relocated on lands where they will feel safe and comfortable,” said Grange.

“We’re looking at [ensuring that] over the next couple of weeks that we would have finalised arrangements for their relocation and [that] we would get them on the various social programmes that are available through the government system.”

Meanwhile, Witter has committed to assisting with the relocation effort and the daily needs of the family.

 “I’m looking at the immediate support in terms of food supplies, water, and so on,” Witter said.  

“I’ll also be speaking with the bauxite company, Alpart, to see if we can identify land so as to facilitate the Food for the Poor assistance that will be coming in terms of housing. And [I will] collaborate with the agencies to ensure that anything that is immediate and urgent we can deal with it until we are able to put them on a path of self sufficiency.”

Any member of the public who wishes to assist the family may call the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport at 978-7654.