Government opens night shelter in St Thomas

Disadvantaged or displaced residents in St Thomas now have access to safe overnight accommodations, following the opening of a night shelter, located at the St Thomas Drop-In Centre on Church Street in the parish capital, Morant Bay.

The facility was officially opened by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, last Friday. McKenzie said that drop-in centres are a part of a policy of the Government where the poor and the destitute across the country are given attention. He informed that the centre, with the new night shelter wing, is a fully furnished facility.

"It has provisions for 28 individuals, male and female, and it is fully furnished and very taken care of," McKenzie said. He expressed optimism that the facility will bring light, greater hope and prosperity to St Thomas, while encouraging corporate players in the parish to play their part in helping to maintain it. McKenzie also stated that the facility represents the end of the Government's buildout of drop-in centres across the country, with attention now being turned to infirmaries.

For his part, Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Louis Chin, said the opening of the night shelter is the fulfilment of a promise made to the parish's most vulnerable citizens.

"It is a modern and compassionate space made to offer safety and restore human dignity," Chin said.

Issuing a charge to parishioners, Chin said, "Let this building stand as a reminder that in this parish no one is forgotten and everyone has a place to call home when the sun goes down."