Bugle & Stakeholders React to KSAMC New Feeding The Homeless Policy

In a recent public notice, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) said that the feeding of the homeless should only be done in designated enclosed areas. But this is being met with much resistance from stakeholders, including the homeless.

Noel, who has been living on the streets of Kingston for more than two years, said that sometimes they can’t access these designated areas.

“If dem have a place weh dem seh wi must go, and who cyaan walk good or whatsoever, they come and pick us up in a vehicle and carry wi there, and mek wi eat, before dem mek a speech like dat,” he said

In a public notice that was placed in The Gleaner on Wednesday, the KSAMC said: “The public is hereby reminded that the feeding of the homeless on street locations in Kingston, which includes King Street, is not tolerated and must be done at designated enclosed areas and buildings as prescribes by the KSAMC’s Poor Relief Department. We further order that this activity cease with immediate effect.”

The letter, which was signed by Town Clerk Robert Hill, also said that persons who want more information on the matter can contact the KSAMC’s Poor Relief Department at 65 Hanover Street, Kingston.

However, Noel is not happy with the KSAMC’s decision, as he said that the food he gets from ‘Good Samaritans’ is sometimes the only meal he eats for days.

“Sometime you can’t move around due to the condition of your body, so it’s very helpful to us. Because sometime wi eat all three box food, four box food one time. So yuh must know how empty yuh tummy is,” he said

Meanwhile, Reverend Sean Major-Campbell, pastor of the Christ Church in Vineyard Town, St Andrew, said that sometimes his church feeds the homeless. And while he admits that the corporation may have good intentions, he is not certain if such a policy will work in Jamaica.

“There is no doubt in my mind that such a move has good intentions, and they have worked well in other countries, in the sense of bringing some sense of order to it. But my concern is that sometimes we come up with these ideas without thinking about the consequences for the less fortunate who are the ones who benefit from this kind of care,” he said.

And entertainer Bugle shares the same concern. Under his Anointed Humanitarian Foundation, Bugle said that he feeds the homeless at least twice each month. He’s waiting on the KSAMC to give a reason for this decision.

He told the media that the designated areas do not have the space to accommodate all the homeless people who need food.

“There is less people in the homeless shelters than on the road, so if yuh only go to the homeless shelter then there’s a huge percentage of people who nah go get no food. And there’s a limited amount a shelter, too, weh cyaa hold so much people,” he said.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Chinese Benevolent Association wants the corporation to consider the homeless when making decisions.

“These are people, our fellow Jamaicans. It’s just that they have fallen on hard times. If there wasn’t such a great need, people wouldn’t be on the streets,” she said.