STATEMENT FROM MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT December 31, 2025 Minister McKenzie rejects false allegations that Gov't will evict people in the shelter at Petersfield High & reiterates that temporary housing solutions are being worked on. Local Government and Community Development Minister, the Honourable Desmond McKenzie is rejecting as misleading and untruthful allegations being paraded on social and traditional media platforms that the Government of Jamaica is moving to evict people who are in the shelter at Petersfield High in Westmoreland today December 31, 2025. The false allegations being perpetuated on various platforms are being rejected as the Government has no intention to pursue an eviction exercise and is fully focused on finding both temporary and permanent housing solutions for those impacted. Minister McKenzie says: "The Government had indicated that ideally we intend to begin the process of closing the shelter before 2025 ends. However, we have been clear that such closure will only take place when reasonable housing facilities are in place for those who remain in the shelter”. Minister McKenzie commented further: "What will transpire is that those who are currently in the shelter at Petersfield High will be asked to relocate to another section of the school compound which will provide less disturbance to the re-opening of school which will take place in the new year. However, let me be clear, we are not evicting those in shelter at Petersfield High who do not have anywhere to go. Those reports on social and traditional media are false and untruthful”. Minister McKenzie says relevant agencies of the state have been on the ground at Petersfield in Westmoreland working on the temporary housing facilitation for those who remain in shelters. The Minister reiterated: "We are working along with Food For the Poor on an additional temporary housing solution and lands have been located to facilitate this taking place. However, this temporary solution will take some time to materialise. It is important to note as well that the long term plan to provide sustainable housing to those who have had their houses demolished and remain in shelters is to be conducted via the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP)”. Minister McKenzie says it must be noted that during a recent visit to Petersfield High, Prime Minister Holness commented that the Government's actions are guided by the best interest of the residents. The Prime Minister underscored that the Government will reopen Petersfield High for school in January but noted that the circumstances facing those in the shelter at the institution will be treated with sensitivity. Minister McKenzie is chastising proponents of misinformation who he says appear to be on a campaign to tell lies about the Government's response to Hurricane Melissa and other important national issues. The Minister stated: "There are some individuals who appear for partisan political reasons to be determined to tell lies about and spread fake news concerning the Government's Hurricane Melissa relief and recovery efforts. The misinformation about the shelter at Petersfield High and our intentions is the latest example. I am calling on those agents of lies and misinformation to cease and desist. Seeking to exploit the plight of the less fortunate in society in order to advance a dishonourable agenda is vulgar, despicable and quite frankly a very low act. These agents of lies and misinformation must be called out and should be ashamed of themselves”.(Andrew Holness)