In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, some schools transitioned into shelters for people who had lost their homes and security overnight. These emergency measures were necessary at the time, as happens immediately after any disaster. But they were never meant to become permanent arrangements.

That’s why it’s puzzling that Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie so soundly dismissed the call by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) on Sunday for Government to clear the remaining schools operating as shelters within three weeks.

JTA President Mark Malabver said 13 schools across the island are still operating as hybrid facilities, simultaneously housing displaced residents while attempting to carry on with teaching and learning. He said, while mitigation measures and separation protocols between students and shelterees have been utilised to help manage the situation, they cannot eliminate the fundamental problem that schools were never designed as long-term housing solutions.

Even under the best circumstances, he said, the presence of shelterees on school compounds presents logistical and safety concerns. It also disrupts the sense of normalcy that students need, as they also attempt to recover academically after the disruptions caused by the October 2025 hurricane.

It’s not unreasonable for educators to ask for a clear, time-bound plan for relocation, especially after previous public declarations from the minister himself that shelterees would have been relocated before the start of the current school term. In fact, the JTA is doing precisely what professional bodies are expected to do in advocating safe working conditions for teachers and proper learning environments for students.

That is why the combative tone adopted Monday by Minister McKenzie is troubling. Rather than acknowledging the legitimacy of Mr Malabver’s concerns, the minister said the JTA has no authority to make such demands.

“We’re not working with any agenda set by the JTA, and we’re not going to be bullied or forced into any position,” he said, arguing that there’s no evidence of any dislocation caused by shelterees within the schools.

He chose to frame the issue as a matter of authority, arguing that the JTA has no right to issue an ultimatum. And, technically, that may be true, but governance is not merely about authority; it is also about listening.

Responding to concerns with defiance always risks escalating tense situations that could otherwise be resolved through dialogue and planning. So it was no surprise that, rather than backing down, the JTA said Tuesday that the abrasive response had strengthened educators’ resolve about protecting their workplaces, and warned of disruptions for the normal operation of schools if urgent and decisive action is not taken.

No one is suggesting that displaced Jamaicans should be thrown out of shelters overnight. Their suffering is real and they are deserving of compassion. But compassion must also be balanced with practicality.

Schools cannot indefinitely carry the dual burden of education and emergency housing. Instead of dismissing Mr Malabver’s concerns, Mr McKenzie should view this moment as an opportunity to address the issue head-on. A clear relocation timeline, better coordination between agencies, and long-term actual solutions would go a long way in preventing similar conflicts.

The teachers are not the enemy, nor are the displaced residents who are struggling to rebuild their lives. Both groups deserve empathy, and both deserve solutions.