Port-of-Spain Mayor Keron Valentine says there were over 300 homeless people in Port-of-Spain but dealing with that issue was not part of the corporation’s core function.
“We kept on calling for them to be placed in rehabilitation centres and that is not our core function. We kept on calling other state agencies and social services to take care of it,” he said yesterday in a telephone interview. However, Valentine said in 2010 the corporation made an attempt to take them off the streets.
“That was not the solution.”
Senior Supt of the Port-of-Spain CID, McDonald Jacobs, said the issue was a serious matter that needed to be highlighted.
“The mayor needs to come up with a solution. Even when we arrest them when they go to St Ann’s, in no time they are back on the street,” he said.
Jacobs said it was also a challenge for police officers.
“It is a risk to the police and we have innocent victims who are injured. It is a serious thing that needs to be highlighted,” he said.
In May, a judicial review lawsuit was filed against the corporation by several homeless people who reside at Tamarind Square, Port-of-Spain, after the corporation decided to place padlocks on gates.
The matter was adjourned until October 6. Attempts to contact Social Development Minister Cherrie Crichlow-Cockburn for a comment proved futile; however, members of staff referred all questions to their website.
According to their data, there are a total of 347 homeless people in 2016 which are 17 more than in 2015.
The ministry noted that almost every stakeholder has taken steps to address the problem of street dwelling but none has had much impact.
Michael Wyke, manager of Kenny Sports store, said workers have to clean the outside of the store every morning because of the dirty sidewalk.
“We have to clean there every morning but they don’t come inside. It is terrible,” he said.
Robbie Robert, small business owner, said that the Government should do more for the homeless.
“The system should take care of them in general. The island has some wealth, it is a small population. Some of them are sick and we need to show more compassion,” he said.