ODPEM, Labour Ministry provide aid after dozens of homes demolished in Trelawny

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) have provided temporary shelter and essential relief supplies to families affected by the demolition of homes in Coopers Pen, Trelawny.

Several residents of the community lost their homes on Tuesday, Aug. 11, after their dwellings were demolished. Residents said they were awakened at about 3 a.m. by workmen using heavy-duty equipment to demolish homes in the area. Reports are that the demolition was carried out by a private developer who owns the land and had a longstanding court dispute with some residents.

Following reports of the incident, social workers from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Trelawny Parish Office visited the community to conduct a preliminary assessment of affected households and determine their immediate welfare needs.

The ministry said the assessment found that approximately 40 families had been affected, including households with children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and other vulnerable individuals.

“Consistent with its social protection mandate, the Ministry mobilised additional support and, working alongside the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and other stakeholders, returned to the community to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to affected residents,” the ministry said in a statement Wednesday. “The team worked beyond midnight to ensure that vulnerable residents were assessed and supported.”

The assistance included food supplies, bottled water, toiletries, buckets, temporary shelter supplies, tents and lighting equipment.

ODPEM said its intervention was undertaken Tuesday evening in coordination with the ministry after immediate humanitarian needs were identified among affected residents.

The agency mobilized relief supplies from its emergency stocks and facilitated their transportation and distribution to families in the community.

ODPEM Director General Commander Alvin Gayle said the agency’s response was guided by the immediate humanitarian needs of residents.

“Our immediate priority is to ensure that affected families have access to basic humanitarian support while the relevant authorities work through the broader issues associated with the situation,” Gayle said.

“ODPEM’s role is to support the welfare and immediate needs of affected persons, and we responded by mobilising available relief resources in coordination with our partners. We will continue to engage the relevant agencies to determine what further support may be required,” he added.

ODPEM said an alternative temporary relocation site had not been identified for the affected residents at the time of its intervention. The agency therefore provided immediate shelter support while the relevant authorities consider longer-term arrangements for the families.

The Labour Ministry said its intervention is focused on assessing the immediate welfare needs of affected households, identifying vulnerable people and connecting eligible residents with available social assistance and support services.

The ministry said it will continue assessing the needs of affected residents and coordinating with ODPEM, local authorities and other stakeholders to determine what additional assistance can be provided through available social protection programs.

The agencies have not indicated how long the temporary shelter arrangements will remain in place or when a longer-term relocation site will be identified.

ODPEM said it will remain engaged with the Labour Ministry, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to monitor the humanitarian needs arising from the demolitions and coordinate additional assistance where necessary and within its mandate and available resources.