Labour Ministry and ODPEM provide relief after Coopers Pen demolitions in Trelawny

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security said it is providing support to families affected by the demolition of homes in Coopers Pen, Trelawny, on Tuesday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says it has provided temporary shelter and essential relief support to families affected by the demolition of housing structures in Cooper’s Pen, Trelawny. According to ODPEM in a press release, the intervention was undertaken on Tuesday evening in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) following the identification of immediate humanitarian needs among affected residents. It said the response focused primarily on providing temporary shelter and essential relief support to assist families in managing their immediate circumstances. The operation involved representatives from ODPEM and MLSS. ODPEM mobilised relief supplies from its available emergency stocks and facilitated their transportation and distribution to the affected families. Director General of ODPEM, Commander Alvin Gayle, said the agency’s intervention was guided by the immediate humanitarian needs identified within the community. “Our immediate priority is to ensure that affected families have access to basic humanitarian support while the relevant authorities work through the broader issues associated with the situation. ODPEM’s role is to support the welfare and immediate needs of affected persons, and we responded by mobilising available relief resources in coordination with our partners. We will continue to engage the relevant agencies to determine what further support may be required,” Gayle said. ODPEM said at the time of the intervention, an alternative temporary relocation site had not been identified for the affected residents. It said it therefore provided immediate shelter support while the appropriate authorities continue to consider the longer-term arrangements for the affected families. The agency added that it will remain engaged with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to monitor the humanitarian needs arising from the situation and to coordinate additional support where necessary and within the agency’s mandate and available resources.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Ministry of Labour and Social Security says it is providing support to families affected by the demolition of homes in Coopers Pen, Trelawny, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The ministry in a press release on Wednesday said following reports of the incident, social workers from its Trelawny Parish Office visited the community to conduct a preliminary assessment of affected households and identify immediate welfare needs. It said based on the preliminary assessment, approximately 40 families have been affected, including households with children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable individuals. “Consistent with its social protection mandate, the Ministry mobilised additional support and, working alongside the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and other stakeholders, returned to the community to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to affected residents. The team worked beyond midnight to ensure that vulnerable residents were assessed and supported,” the ministry said. According to the ministry, assistance distributed included food supplies, bottled water, toiletries, buckets, temporary shelter supplies, tents and lighting equipment. It said intervention is focused on assessing the immediate welfare needs of affected families, identifying vulnerable persons and connecting eligible residents with available social assistance and support services. “The ministry’s immediate concern is the welfare of the families affected, particularly children, older persons, persons with disabilities and others who may be vulnerable. Our social workers have been on the ground assessing their needs and providing immediate assistance, and we will continue to work with our partners to determine what additional support can be provided within the Ministry’s social protection programmes,” said Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr. The ministry said it will continue to assess the needs of affected residents and coordinate with the relevant agencies and stakeholders, as appropriate, to provide available social assistance to eligible families.