Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, has slammed local human rights organisations for their failure to speak out against attacks on the island’s homeless population.

Speaking at the opening of a drop-in night shelter at the Clarendon Infirmary on Friday, McKenzie noted that the homeless population is at significant risk and was increasingly becoming the target of criminals.

“It is a sad day when a country turns on the homeless population in the way in which some of these criminals have,” said McKenzie.

“And you know what is sad about it, I don’t hear one of these so-called human rights groups coming out condemning these actions. I don’t hear anybody talking about how brutal and how wicked these people are against the homeless of this country,” added McKenzie.

McKenzie said he has also noted the concerns expressed by rural constituents about the influx of street people in rural parishes and towns, namely in Clarendon and the town of Santa Cruz in St Elizabeth.

The minister, while pointing out that steps are being taken to address the problem, urged the private sector to partner with the government to provide for the poor and destitute.

He used the occasion to reiterate his promise that a drop-in night shelter would be established for the homeless in every parish.

Jamaica has a homeless population of roughly 3,000 with approximately 80 per cent of them being men.