Jamaica AIDS Support chides MPs over criticisms of FFP housing
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) has given its support to charity organisation Food for the Poor and is also challenging recent claims made by Members of Parliament, Mikael Phillips and Leslie Campbell.
The MPs during an Infrastructure and Physical Development Committee of Parliament meeting on May 25 criticised the quality of the wooden houses being built under the Government’s Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme.The JASL said over the years, the organisation has often partnered with Food for the Poor for access to housing solutions for clients most vulnerable to HIV and Aids, and to date, there have been no complaints regarding the quality of the houses provided.The JASL explained that the cyclical nature and inverse relationship between HIV prevalence and socioeconomic status has been observed to affect those at the lower socio-economic strata, when one examines levels of education, poverty, annual household income, employment, and homeless status.“It is on that basis that Food for the Poor must be congratulated for its work and support to the poorest Jamaicans over the years. Since being founded in 1982, Food for the Poor has constructed over 42,000 housing units for beneficiaries in need of housing solutions, among whom are persons living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.“The organisation has also distributed containers of aid to the poor; supported hospitals, hospice care and other HIV/AIDS facilities throughout the Caribbean region by providing food, medicine, medical equipment, personal care items, furniture, and medical supplies,” JASL outlined.The organisation said it welcomes Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ support for Food for the Poor; and urges MPs to be cautious in their criticisms and demonstrate greater levels of gratitude.JASL also made a call for the government to implement increased and improved social protection and housing solutions for Jamaica’s most vulnerable.