OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has blasted critics of the Andrew Holness-led Administration who claim it is callous towards the less fortunate.

He made the statement at the official opening of a homeless night shelter in Buckfield, Ocho Rios, St Ann, last Friday.

Among the critics have been members of the People’s National Party, including Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson. He has noted that despite the country recording its lowest unemployment rate in its history, many Jamaicans are suffering financially while those in the upper class become wealthier. Robinson has argued that the impressive post-COVID-19 recovery the Government has been boasting about is not being felt by the less fortunate.

However, McKenzie has dismissed these claims, pointing to the $22-million night shelter as a demonstration of how the Government is caring for the less fortunate.

“There are those who would want to make the country believe that this is an uncaring Government, that this Government has not done anything for the poor and those who are marginalised. I want to say — without fear of contradiction — that that is nonsense, rubbish at the highest level because no other Administration has done what the Andrew Holness-led Administration has done for the poor in this country since 2016,” he said.

McKenzie pointed out that the Government has earmarked millions to be spent on projects that will benefit St Ann’s poor and vulnerable this year as part of an islandwide push.

“For this year alone the Government of Prime Minister Andrew Holness is providing over $100 million in social security for the parish of St Ann for the poor and destitute,” the minister said.

“Normally when people have problems with street people they find dumper trucks and go put them in and go dump them in mud lake, [but] this is a caring Government,” he said.

McKenzie said that facilities such as the drop-in centre, established in conjunction with the new night shelter, are more than just a roof over the heads of the homeless.

“The drop-in centre, since it was established we not only take them in and give them medical care and look after their needs but we also try to rehabilitate them,” he explained.

This, the minister added, has resulted in the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of five homeless individuals into permanent employment.

He also disclosed that one resident has undertaken an educational journey by pursuing a certificate in agriculture at Ebony Park Heart Academy.

Meanwhile, in providing an update on the death of a homeless man who was set ablaze last year, McKenzie said the Government is now fine-tuning the payment of the $500,000 reward that led to arrests and charges against the alleged teenaged perpetrators.