The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID) is reiterating that only authorised employees of the Housing Ministry and the Labour and Social Security Ministry and the Social Development Commission (SDC), are permitted to conduct assessments to determine which individuals in Cooper’s Pen are legitimate potential beneficiaries following the recent eviction exercise. 

The Ministry is issuing the clarification following reports that unauthorised operatives in Trelawny have been collecting names from people, including individuals who suffered no property damage and do not reside in Cooper’s Pen, thereby raising their expectations of potentially benefiting from state resources.

 Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently disclosed that the Ministry of Housing had interviewed a number of people on the property, while the Social Development Commission (SDC) is being brought in to assess households, families and vulnerable residents. 

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is also conducting assessments. The information collected by the Ministries and the SDC will be reviewed to determine who qualifies for assistance. The Prime Minister stated that the Government will not allow unscrupulous individuals to act under false pretences to obtain benefits and defraud taxpayers of state resources.

 Therefore, the Ministry wishes to remind the public that only employees with valid identification cards from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Housing and the SDC are authorised to conduct assessments pertaining to potential beneficiaries arising from the eviction in Cooper’s Pen. The eviction and demolition exercise was carried out recently after the owners of the property had their rights affirmed by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.