A call for greater government accountability drew hundreds of people to Cross Roads, St Andrew, on Tuesday as the Advocates Network for Jamaicans staged a rally highlighting a range of national concerns, from the handling of Hurricane Melissa relief funds to governance, transparency and constitutional reform.

Participants wore yellow in response to the group’s call for a public show of support. Police estimated that about 500 people attended, excluding commuters waiting at nearby bus stops. Officers also assisted people crossing the road to join the gathering.

While the immediate focus was on the Government’s undisclosed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States under the Third Country Nationals (TCN) programme, the Integrity Commission’s findings involving Cabinet Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley, and unspent hurricane relief funds collected more than eight months ago, demonstrators also raised concerns about the unpublished FINSAC report, the Stocks & Securities Limited (SSL) fraud, delays to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, constitutional reform, healthcare, infrastructure and what they described as a growing disconnect between government and citizens.