KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s political opposition has issued a forceful appeal to the government, demanding immediate action to address the housing crisis facing residents of Petersfield, Westmoreland, who remain displaced two months after Hurricane Melissa devastated the region.
Professor Senator Floyd Morris, Opposition Spokesman on Housing and Sustainable Living, revealed that approximately 185 residents continue to occupy temporary shelter at Petersfield High School since the hurricane’s passage. The government has notified these displaced individuals that they must vacate the educational facility by December’s end to allow normal academic operations to resume.
Senator Morris acknowledged the school’s unsuitability as long-term accommodation but emphasized the state’s obligation to provide meaningful alternatives for those rendered homeless. He particularly condemned suggestions that residents might be relocated to tents on the school’s playing field, describing such proposals as “inhumane” and “an affront to human dignity.”
The opposition spokesman also criticized official recommendations that displaced persons should seek accommodation with relatives or secure rental properties independently. “Simply instructing residents to find family members or rent accommodations is fundamentally inadequate,” Morris asserted. “A responsible government maintains a duty of care toward citizens following natural disasters and does not abandon distressed populations.”
Professor Morris proposed a comprehensive three-phase intervention strategy: establishing temporary holding facilities while permanent solutions are developed; providing construction materials and Jamaica Defence Force support to repair salvageable homes; and creating sustainable housing options for those whose residences were completely destroyed.
Reflecting on the hurricane’s devastating impact, Morris highlighted how rapidly the storm transformed lives: “Hurricane Melissa ravaged these communities within mere minutes of wind and rain, plunging residents into unimaginable circumstances. A compassionate government must demonstrate empathy and exhaust all resources to support citizens whose futures remain perilously uncertain.”