Ensuring that joy is felt islandwide this Christmas, Government entities have decided that funds from cancelled holiday parties will be repurposed to bring festivities to communities in Western Jamaica worst impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr told a Jamaica Observer Press Club on Thursday that the decision was made by the Government based on the consensus that all Jamaicans deserved to enjoy the holidays.

“The ministries have been mandated to sort of temper their Christmas activities, and the intention is for them to be able to shift that energy, that allocation [of funds] to work with us to target communities. So we are actually setting up a schedule to have most of the ministries partnered with a community so they can go in and do a Christmas activity in the community,” said Charles Jr.

In the aftermath of the Category 5 storm that struck the island on October 28, a directive was issued by the Government to cancel Christmas parties at all ministries, State agencies and departments.

“We have agreed to allow small in-ministry or in-department recognition and morale-building activities. So, if you are doing something in the office itself, that is fine, but no rental of external venues is allowed,” Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon announced on December 10 during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

At the time, she added that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) were being encouraged to conduct outreach activities with members of their teams affected and who reside in affected areas.

On Thursday, Charles Jr said that the decision to have MDAs reach out to communities ravaged by the hurricane was finalised, noting that they intended to bring joy, helping hands, and listening ears to those facing unimaginable loss.

“A lot of children and parents and elderly, they won’t have a good Christmas. So we want to do activities to provide some Christmas cheer. We already discussed it and confirmed that we will be working with them. I don’t want to say having a celebration, but we’re going to work with them to have a Christmas engagement,” he said.

The minister also invited private entities and the public to join the mission, adding that they would also be working with churches to show people in Western Jamaica that they matter.

“A lot is needed, and it’s beyond just packages. People need people. To simply go in and just have a conversation makes a massive difference. So we have volunteers who give their time and their service and they may not be able to give their money, but they’re just as valuable.

“Imagine in the Petersfield shelter [in Westmoreland], the largest shelter in the country right now, we have 42 children and 10 newborns. Imagine having a baby in a shelter. So there’s a lot that is needed. It would be good for mothers to connect with those mothers and the newborns. This is the time for the country to step up,” he said.