Gov’t warns only authorised employees permitted to conduct beneficiary assessments in Cooper’s Pen
KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID) says only authorised employees of the Housing Ministry, Labour and Social Security Ministry and Social Development Commission (SDC), are permitted to conduct assessments to determine which individuals in Cooper’s Pen are legitimate potential beneficiaries following the recent eviction exercise.
The ministry, in a statement issued on Thursday, cited reports that unauthorised operatives in Trelawny have been collecting names from people, including individuals who suffered no property damage and do not reside in Cooper’s Pen, thereby raising their expectations of potentially benefiting from state resources.
The statement follows a public advisory shared by Trelawny Northern Member of Parliament Tova Hamilton, cautioning residents against giving their information to unauthorised personnel.
“No legitimate placement can be bought through an unofficial individual, only the government of Jamaica acting through its authorised agencies has the authority to manage this process,” she said.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness had disclosed that the Ministry of Housing had interviewed a number of people on the property, while the Social Development Commission (SDC) is being brought in to assess households, families and vulnerable residents.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is also conducting assessments.
This information collected will be reviewed to determine who qualifies for assistance.
Holness stated that the Government will not allow unscrupulous individuals to act under false pretences to obtain benefits and defraud taxpayers of state resources.
Therefore, the ministry is reminding the public that only employees with valid identification cards from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Housing and the SDC are authorised to conduct assessments pertaining to potential beneficiaries arising from the eviction in Cooper’s Pen.
It noted that the eviction and demolition exercise was carried out recently after the owners of the property had their rights affirmed by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
The nightime demolition left over 20 families who had built illegal structures on the land homeless.
