Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, will be leading a special Ministerial team that will tour the flood-damaged parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland tomorrow, Wednesday February 9, to assess conditions and pave the way for further interventions to assist affected parishioners.

“This team will be comprised of the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. It will also include the Members of Parliament from the Constituencies in these parishes, Mayors of the parish capitals and representatives from a number of Agencies including Mr. Varden Downer, Senior Director of Project Implementation at the National Works Agency.

“The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is already active on the ground in providing relief supplies, and one of the objectives of the tour is to see what more can be done to complement the work being done.

“Our visit will also help us to quickly devise targeted interventions to help the affected sectors in these parishes, such as agriculture. We will commence tomorrow’s activities in Portland, then move on to St. Mary and then to St. Ann.

“This Administration is highly cognizant of the disruption that the rains have caused in these parishes, and our response has, and will continue to reflect joined-up government in the delivery of support to our citizens.”

“…reject the baseless allegations and conspiracy theories being bandied out in the public domain by the irresponsible few”.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie has rejected claims that the Government undermined the national football programme by preventing spectators from attending the last two World Cup qualifying matches at the National Stadium.

Mr McKenzie was firm in his rejection of the allegations, “This is completely malicious, reckless and unfounded. The Government of Jamaica is facilitating the responsible return of sport and social life in general, in line with the COVID-19 indicators. There is no policy to promote one sport while restricting the other”.

He continued, “The review of applications for sporting events is made by a clearly designated range of Ministries and Agencies, including the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, and this process, which is grounded in consultation and partnership, includes at all times the representatives of the stakeholders who make the applications. The most decisive factor in all cases is the rate of infection at the point at which the review is being made”.

Minister McKenzie says the rules have always been clear, “The policy of having a limited number of fully vaccinated spectators at sporting events was publicly introduced by me at a news conference on November 1, 2021 to facilitate fans attending the first World Cup qualifying home game between Jamaica and the United States on November 16, 2021. The online Events Authorization System was unveiled and endorsed by my colleague Ministers of Health and Wellness and Culture, Gender and Sport, as well as the President of the Jamaica Football Federation at this news conference”.

He explained that, “The reality is that the rising COVID-19 infection rates caused by the fourth wave of the virus drove the decision to have the remaining home matches played without spectators. This reality was not limited to the football programme. Permission was initially granted to the Jamaica Cricket Association to have a limited number of fully vaccinated spectators for four limited-overs matches between the West Indies and Ireland held at Sabina Park between January 8 and 16, 2022. The rising infection numbers resulted in this permission being revised to have the matches proceed without spectators. Again, the review process involved the Ministries, Agencies and cricketing stakeholders”.

Minister McKenzie is asking members of the public to reject the baseless allegations and conspiracy theories being bandied out in the public domain by the irresponsible few. He asserted that, “This Administration continues to gradually reopen the public space by facilitating sporting events, including premier league and schoolboy football. while I fully understand the disappointment of fans of any sport who wish to turn out and give their personal support, I must re-emphasize that the ability to do so depends entirely on the COVID-19 indicators and nothing else. I therefore urge all well-thinking lovers of sport to.”

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has warned that the enforcement of the Disaster Risk Management Act will be intensified as persons continue to attempt to find new ways to host and attend events in breach of the law.

“Just last weekend, there was an incident in Negril in which a party vessel capsized with many patrons aboard who were attending a floating party, and the video of the event and the incident has been widely shared. While we are relieved that there were no injuries or deaths reported, the fact is that all entertainment events are prohibited by Order. I have noted that the Westmoreland police are investigating the matter, and the fact is that all who organized this event, including the owners and managers of the vessel, and those who attended it are liable for prosecution. Earlier this year, all Cays were closed to entertainment events, as persons tried to find creative ways to host illegal parties. It is clear that there are people who are determined to devise any means possible to do what they know is illegal and stage entertainment events. The Ministry, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the police are even more determined to interrupt these activities and prosecute those who promote their own interest over that of public health and safety.

“I cannot ask too often for our citizens and visitors to obey the law. I also wish to remind the public that now that the Disaster Risk Management Act has been amended, these offences attract specific fines, as well as a maximum fine of J$1 million and a maximum of one year in prison on conviction in the courts. The police are also no longer required to warn offenders before prosecuting them.

I therefore urge everyone to do the right thing, obey the law and safeguard your health and your life, as we manage COVID-19.”

As the Government of Jamaica continues its efforts to spearhead the management of COVID-19 through a range of measures, the Cabinet has this week indicated that it may favourably consider limited adjustments to one of those measures – a two-week ban on all burials – which took effect on Monday.

At a special news conference following the meeting of the Cabinet on Monday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, revealed that he and Ministry officials have been meeting with representatives of the final care industry, including proprietors of funeral homes, who have expressed public health and financial concerns following the announcement of the temporary ban by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness last Sunday.

“We met on the 2nd and the 8th of March, and we have agreed to meet again before the end of this week. The exchanges have been very frank and useful. On the economic side of things, it was put to us that gravediggers and other labourers at burial sites are paid only when burials actually take place, and so they would be out of pocket during the two-week pause on burials. Consideration is therefore being given to provide grants to these persons who will be affected.”

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development also stated that an adjustment to the temporary ban on burials is being contemplated by Cabinet, with the possibility of allowing:

1. The burial or cremation of bodies that are in an advanced state of decomposition.
2. The burial or cremation of bodies that are not in an advanced state of decomposition, but have been recommended for immediate burial by the appropriate health authorities, and
3. The burial or cremation of indigent persons who die in state care.