JIS – About 344 Jamaican workers in the Jamaica’s Ministry of Labor’s Overseas Hospitality and Agricultural Program in the USA have been affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Migrant workers were stationed at three hotel properties in Mississippi, all three hotels sustained major damages and are currently closed.
Ms. Barbara Dacosta, Chief Liaison Officer of the Jamaica Central Labor Organization in Washington, D.C., said contact has been made with all the workers and all are safe and accounted for. The workers are being housed in temporary shelters as homes have been damaged from flooding.
An assessment will be made of the continuation of the program based on the extent of damages to the affected hotel properties. Decisions will be made regarding the current housing situation as well as relocation of the workers to other properties based on available opportunities, meanwhile some of the workers will be returning home.
Hotel properties in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama had approximately 30 Jamaican workers and sustained minor damages. The Jamaican workers at these locations were not affected in any way, and “at this time, we do not anticipate any disruptions” stated DaCosta.
Jamaica’s Consul General, Mr. Ricardo Allicock is working with the Jamaica Central Labor Organization staff to insure the needs of all Jamaicans in the program whom have been affected are being attended to.
There are approximately 5,000 Jamaicans currently employed under the Ministry of Labor’s Overseas Program in the hospitality and agricultural sector throughout the USA.
