Opposition concerned that persons still in shelters

The Shadow Minister of Local Government, Natalie Neita Garvey, is raising concern about the continued housing of hurricane-affected residents in school shelters months after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

In a release, Neita Garvey said that no citizen should still be residing in emergency shelters at this stage, particularly in facilities intended for children's education. She said that the prolonged use of schools as shelters has created a range of serious issues, including disruptions to learning, inadequate living conditions, and the absence of proper safeguards for vulnerable groups, especially children. She further highlighted troubling reports of inappropriate conduct within these shared spaces, including incidents of sexual behaviour in the presence of children.

"The Government has a responsibility to ensure that displaced residents are relocated in a timely and dignified manner. We are now well beyond the point where emergency sheltering should be the norm. The continued use of schools in this way is unacceptable and exposes both students and residents to unnecessary risk," she said.

Neita Garvey called on Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie to provide a clear update on the status of relocation efforts, including the implementation of the rental programme announced earlier this year, the timeline for the full exit of residents from school shelters, and the broader post-Hurricane Melissa recovery plan.

She also urged the authorities to outline immediate measures to protect children and restore schools to safe and appropriate learning environments.