ST. ELIZABETH:
A SURVEY on street persons by the University of the West Indies, in the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth, should be well on its way in these three locations.
This according to a letter dated February 7, 2006, from the St. James Parish Council Poor Relief Department, which was presented at a recent poor relief meeting of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council.
The letter stated that, "The University of the West Indies would be conducting a survey on homeless street persons within the island."
Noting that the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth are in one group, it added: "The poor relief officers of these parishes that were selected will receive training to participate in this exercise base on their level of experience."
The letter went on to explain that Mrs. Sharon Whyte, surveyor coordinator and Dr. Wendel Abel, consultant psychiatrist of the UWI, will be responsible for the training ceremony.
PROJECT WELCOMED
When contacted by The Gleaner for a comment, a member of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council said the idea was a welcome one and that it should be noted clearly what steps will be taken to address the problem of homeless persons living on the nation's streets.
"Yes, I agree totally with this move because, with the scale-down of the Bellevue Hospital, a lot of mentally ill persons have been living on the streets across the country," said councillor for the Lacovia Division, Broderick Wright.
