…… the trial and tribulations of MoBay's ‘street people.’

Western Bureau:

While the ugly 'black eye', which resulted from city officials being implicated in the infamous, July 15, 1999, Street People Scandal, in which 39 persons, mostly mentally ill, were kidnapped from the streets of Montego Bay in St James, and dumped near a mud lake in St Elizabeth, has healed somewhat, homelessness remains a sad reality in the western city.

Based on research, it would appear that over the past 150 years, a number of efforts have been made, through various initiatives by several interest groups, to provide care and assistance to St James' ever-growing population of homeless people.

Some of the initiatives tried include the decision in 1865 to establish the St James Infirmary in Albion, near Montego Bay, through government aid. That facility, popularly know as the 'Poor House', currently caters to the elderly, albeit there is a 27-year-old person housed there also.

The St James Parish Council, which is primarily responsible for the infirmary, is also involved in a number of other programmes that are aimed at improving the quality of life for the homeless. The initiatives include the 'Street People Programme', which provides daily meals, baths and changes of clothing for the homeless; and the Marie Atkins Care Centre, which was established in 1993 to offer structured care.

Another facility opened to street people in the western city is City Spirit, an organisation which provides medical, legal and social services to the mentally ill, homeless, and drug addicts. The facility's clients are usually directed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital or to the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI), which offers occupational therapy and night shelter for approximately 120 clients.

While organisations like CUMI and the newly formed Street People Liberation Organization (SPLO) are seemingly dedicated to improving the quality of life of the homeless, there is still a big question mark as to whether or not the wider society is similarly inspired.

In addition to the 1999 Street People Scandal, there have been numerous reports over the past two decades of street people being abused and attacked by both agents of the State as well as ordinary citizens.

Following the national and international outcry in the aftermath of the 1999 incident, the Government of Jamaica established a commission of enquiry into the incident. While the result proved quite damning for some public officials, no one was found to be criminally responsible.

Nonetheless, the Government accepted responsibility for the incident and a decision was taken to compensate the victims with a monthly stipend of J$20,000.

- C.T.