Falmouth to get $25m facility for the homeless
WESTERN BUREAU: HOMELESS PERSONS in Falmouth, Trelawny, are now poised to have a home as Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie broke ground on Thursday for the construction of a $25 million home for the homeless in Falmouth.
The building, the second to be constructed by the l ocal government ministry, will accommodate 20 persons.
“This is a place where they can come to have a meal and a place to sleep. Those in need can come at anytime as the building will be open 24 hours a day. Eight more similar homes will be built across the island in the next two years,” said McKenzie.
The local government minister, who has been a long-standing advocate for the nation’s poor and needy, revealed that there were some 3,000 persons living on the streets of Jamaica.
“The way we treat the less fortunate is a reflection of how the Government responds to their needs. Some are on the street not because they wished for it, but circumstances have forced them to live on the street,” said McKenzie.
Drawing inspiration from Bob Marley’s song, “Cold ground was my bed last night,” McKenzie said that type of life should not be the reality of the nation’s homeless.
“Many have made contributions to the society but something went wrong. Remember today you are up but tomorrow you may be down,” said McKenzie, quoting more Bob Marley lyrics.
Cognisant of t he various challenges that might arise during the project, McKenzie issued a stern warning that he would not tolerate any delays in the construction of the facility.
“Mr Mayor, I want the building to be completed on time. There must be no overrun on the budget. I want to come back at the end of the year and have an opening ceremony,” said McKenzie.
The building is to be constructed on 1,600 acres of government lands, a short distance away from the town centre.