WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A contentious standoff has emerged between displaced hurricane survivors and government authorities in Petersfield, Westmoreland Parish, where residents currently occupying Petersfield High School as a storm shelter must vacate the premises by December’s end. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie delivered the ultimatum during a Wednesday site visit, emphasizing the facility must be cleared to allow preparatory work for January’s academic term.
The crisis stems from October’s devastating Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that severely impacted Westmoreland and four other parishes. Minister McKenzie outlined a four-phase relocation strategy for shelter occupants, beginning with elderly residents who will be transferred to infirmary care with 24-hour support. The government will additionally facilitate relocation to willing family members or friends for other categories of displaced persons.
For those previously paying rent who lost their homes, McKenzie promised targeted support programs. As a final measure, the Jamaica Defence Force will establish a temporary tent camp on a playground adjacent to the school, equipped with bedding, bathrooms, and toilet facilities. ‘The same service that is provided here will be provided over on that facility,’ McKenzie stated, while acknowledging limited alternatives: ‘Let me be frank with you, there is no other solution available now.’
Despite these provisions, several residents expressed vehement opposition to the proposed measures. Trishauna, a mother of three, voiced grave safety concerns regarding the tent camp location: ‘Mi not going ah ball ground fi man come rape off my child over there. When rain falls, over deh suh a swamp.’ She criticized the proposed solution as inadequate and suggested instead that government efforts should focus on helping people rebuild permanent shelter rather than relocating them to temporary, potentially hazardous conditions.