AS Petersfield High prepares to welcome students back to school on Monday, a dispute has erupted over the fate of families still sheltering at the institution.

This comes as Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, the People’s National Party’s Dwayne Vaz, has accused the Government of risking the displacement of vulnerable families still at the shelter, while Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has dismissed those claims as false, insisting that no evictions are planned and that alternative arrangements are being pursued.

At the centre of the disagreement is more than 50 families who have been living at Petersfield High School since Hurricane Melissa forced them from their homes on October 28. With the new academic term set to begin, questions have intensified over how will the school resume operations without leaving already displaced families in a worse position.

In a statement issued on Wednesday Vaz, said he supports the reopening of schools, but warned that it must not come at the expense of families who remain without permanent housing.

He also pointed to assurances he said were given during an earlier visit to the shelter by the local government minister, arguing that those commitments must now be honoured.

“When the minister visited, commitments were made that no family would be left behind. At this moment, many residents have not been informed of confirmed alternative accommodation. We must honour the promises made to these families,” Vaz said.

Vaz further noted that humanitarian assessments indicate the shelter population includes minors and other vulnerable individuals, and said no court order authorising eviction has been presented. He warned that proceeding without clear arrangements could deepen hardship for families still recovering from the hurricane.

However, shortly after the statement was issued, the minister responded through a press release from his ministry, countering what he described as misinformation and rejecting claims that the Government intends to evict families from the shelter.

“The false allegations being perpetuated on various platforms are being rejected as the Government has no intention to pursue an eviction exercise and is fully focused on finding both temporary and permanent housing solutions for those impacted,” the minister said.

McKenzie acknowledged that the Government had hoped to begin closing the shelter before the end of 2025, but stressed that this would only happen once suitable housing options are in place.

According to the minister, the immediate plan involves relocating shelter residents to another section of the school compound to minimise disruption to classes, rather than removing them from the site altogether.

“What will transpire is that those who are currently in the shelter at Petersfield High will be asked to relocate to another section of the school compound which will provide less disturbance to the reopening of school which will take place in the new year. However, let me be clear, we are not evicting those in shelter at Petersfield High who do not have anywhere to go,” McKenzie said.

He added that State agencies remain on the ground in Westmoreland, working alongside partners to expand housing options, including temporary solutions being developed with Food For the Poor.

“We are working along with Food For the Poor on an additional temporary housing solution and lands have been located to facilitate this taking place. However, this temporary solution will take some time to materialise. It is important to note as well that the long-term plan to provide sustainable housing to those who have had their houses demolished and remain in shelters is to be conducted via the New Social Housing Programme.”

The minister also issued a sharp rebuke to critics, accusing them of exploiting the situation for political gain.

“There are some individuals who appear for partisan political reasons to be determined to tell lies about and spread fake news concerning the Government’s Hurricane Melissa relief and recovery efforts. The misinformation about the shelter at Petersfield High and our intentions is the latest example. I am calling on those agents of lies and misinformation to cease and desist. Seeking to exploit the plight of the less fortunate in society in order to advance a dishonourable agenda is vulgar, despicable, and quite frankly a very low act. These agents of lies and misinformation must be called out and should be ashamed of themselves,” McKenzie stressed.

MCKENZIE… the Government has no intention to pursue an eviction exercise.