The Government of Jamaica has stepped up its multi-agency response to assist families displaced by the demolition of homes in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny, with several agencies providing emergency relief and assessing the needs of vulnerable residents.

In a press statement today, the Government said the demolition on Tuesday arose from a longstanding private matter and stressed that it was not a party to the underlying dispute. However, following the destruction of the homes and the resulting displacement, government agencies have moved to address the immediate humanitarian and social welfare needs of the affected families.

Social workers from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) were deployed to the community to conduct preliminary assessments. The initial assessment indicated that approximately 40 families were affected, including households with children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable individuals.