WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is asking hurricane-affected residents of Petersfield in Westmoreland for cooperation as Government moves closer to closing the shelter in the community while at the same time providing them with support.

The shelter at Petersfield High School — activated in response to Hurricane Melissa — is expected to wind up its operation by the end of December in time for the reopening of school for the Easter term.

Holness told thousands of residents gathered at the Petersfield High School on Saturday afternoon for the Prime Minister’s Christmas Treat that the government is mulling the possibility of providing land for those in need as they try to have a shelter over their heads.

“I am here asking for your cooperation. There need not be any antagonism, any difference, any conflict. I am your servant. I am here to serve you. But you have also given me some authority to be your steward. Meaning, you have given me some authority to make some decisions on your behalf,” Holness said.

“And in everything that I have done, how I have executed my duties, it is clear that we are making the best decisions on your behalf,” the prime minister continued. “So, I ask again for your cooperation as we wind down the centre and find proper shelter solutions for you. If I can have your support, we can have this done very quickly and beneficial to all.”

Holness said the government is providing solutions for those in need as it makes way for the reopening of the school.

“I want everyone who is within this centre to understand that the school is not the permanent solution for your situation. We must reopen the school come January. We are going to provide the solutions to you for you to be relocated from the school,” Holness said.

“Some persons, we may be able to find a permanent solution right now. And for some, we may have to find a transition arrangement, meaning a temporary arrangement until we find the permanent arrangement, but whatever it is, we are committed to ensuring that you are in a better situation,” he added.

Earlier in December, the residents were left upset after being told by Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie that the shelter will have to be closed by the end of the month.

On Saturday, Holness said he had dispatched Minister McKenzie several times to sit with the residents, along with the team from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to work out individually what can be done.

“We know that there are some persons here whose situation is, they are elderly. Some of them may have been shut in before. There is nowhere else for them to go. There is a particular solution that was discussed with Minister McKenzie, which we will put into motion,” Holness said.

“There are some people who were paying rent before; the house flattened and the landlord took the opportunity to say, ‘don’t bother [to] come back’. We know that. So we have asked the Ministry of Local Government to sit with you. There is a particular plan for that,” the prime minister continued, adding “If you fall into that category, work with the social workers, and we will assist.”

Holness also said the government is willing to assist those who are in need of assistance to repair their property.
“It is an opportunity now for the government to offer you some support, for you to stand up at your house. So, some people are able to go back to where they were, and we can help you build up,” stated Holness.

“But there are a certain number of persons who do have nowhere to go. And some of you are saying. Well, this is the opportunity for the government to find a piece of land for me and give me a house. So, we are going to hold up to that,” he added.

The prime minister said the provision of land is something that the government is considering.

“We are looking into the possibilities. We are trying to find land and other areas where we could find solutions. But whatever category you are finding yourself in, I want to say to you today that the government is sensitive, the government is caring, and we will work with you to find a solution that puts you in a better position than you are in today,” assured Holness.

Meanwhile, Holness said the government is currently moving from relief to recovery.

“Where people’s minds are at now, they want their roof. They want their house. So, we are moving from the relief phase to the recovery phase. And that is where the government comes in because, while everybody can come and drop off a package, very few people have the capability to come and fix your roof,” he said.

Holness said grants towards the repairing of houses will commence in January.