Safeguarding Jamaica’s Vulnerable

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), and Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, interact with youngsters during the launch of the Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) at the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St. Ann in June.
Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams (right), presents a cooked meal to one of several persons living on the streets of the Corporate Area who were catered to during the Mayor’s Annual New Year’s Feeding of the Homeless treat. The activity was held at St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston.

• Nine (9) homes handed over to indigent persons.

• $25 million Falmouth Home- less Shelter in Trelawny opened.

• The Ocho Rios Night Shelter in St. Ann opened to accommodate the homeless.

• $20 million in back-to-school assistance was allocated for students registered under the Poor Relief Department.

• A drop-in centre and night shelter, adjacent to the Clarendon Infirmary, was opened.

• Phase-two development of the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless in downtown Kingston commenced to increase occupancy to 100.

Summer Employment

• 4,000 youngsters were deployed to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the summer.

Disaster Preparedness and Relief

• The Local Government Ministry committed $50 million for the national response to the meteorological drought that impacted Jamaica.

• $60 million was spent to improve access to potable water for residents in several communities across the Jamaica severely impacted by drought.

• $4 million was allocated to help address sewerage challenges in Falmouth, Trelawny.

• Comprehensive soil surveys were conducted in two parishes, the results of which will inform national action to promote sustainable land use and management practices for agri- culture and infrastructure development.