Kingston, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured residents in central Kingston and Fletchers Land that the Government will provide assistance to those affected by the recent fire in the communities.
During his visit to the area on Tuesday afternoon, Holness informed residents that his Administration would do its best to support those displaced by last Wednesday’s fire. He outlined the plan of action, stating, “Before we can assist in any meaningful way other than the humanitarian assistance, which is already in train, the building assistance we have to determine the ownership of the land that’s number one, and then we have to do some social investigation into the circumstances of the persons to determine the extent to which we can help.”
Holness emphasized that the Government is committed to helping dislocated individuals return to normalcy. He added that those without documents to prove ownership would also receive assistance. “For those persons who are living on property that they don’t own or don’t have the title to, then we still will help, but we will help you maybe with building materials or some other form of assistance. But we cannot build on land that is not our land or we don’t have the rights to build on it,” he stressed.
Holness further explained that for individuals who do not have the title or know the owners, the Government will seek permission from the owners to build. The assistance, he added, will be provided “as soon as possible.”
