Housing assistance coming for St Elizabeth family involved in sex pastor case
Published:Thursday | June 28, 2018 | 1:46 PMRomario Scott
Olivia Grange, the minister of gender, culture, entertainment and sport, has disclosed that a number of shelters are being built for victims of abuse even as the government moves to facilitate permanent housing solution for the family of two girls who were allegedly sexually abused in St Elizabeth.
"My ministry has been working to provide shelter for the family in St Elizabeth that came to national attention following a case of child sexual abuse by a pastor. The family had been living in unsuitable situations.
"The family is in temporary housing. But, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, we are about to begin construction of a permanent housing solution for them," Grange disclosed during her sectoral presentation in Parliament last week.
"The children are currently in a place of safety and we have been mobilising assistance," the minister added while expressing gratitude to those who have assisted the family.
Moravian minister of religion Rupert Clarke was in March this year sentenced to eight years in prison on two counts of having sexual intercourse with two sisters under the age of 16 years old.
Grange further reported that the establishment of national shelters was part of the Jamaica 55 Legacy Programme.
"I am pleased to report that Cabinet has approved the purchase of a property for use as a national shelter in rural Jamaica. We have completed the purchase and will have the shelter operational very soon," she told Parliament.
"I am also pleased to report that the Crisis Shelter - owned by Government and operated by Woman Inc - was refurbished, retro-fitted and re-opened through partnership with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) on the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2017," Grange also said.