Jamaica Govt probes claims students being exposed to sex at hurricane shelters

The Jamaica Government says it is investigating reports that students are being exposed to sex by Hurricane Melissa victims who are still sheltering in some schools.

Jamaica’s Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon said the allegations are of such gravity that they must be treated with utmost urgency and specificity.

“Any allegation of inappropriate behaviour in a shelter environment, particularly where children may be affected, is a matter of the greatest seriousness,” the minister stated. “I was shocked to hear the public allegation from [Dr Mark] Malabver [President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA)] for the first time by way of a public address. I hope he made formal reports to all relevant authorities before doing so.”

“Nonetheless, I am urging Dr Malabver to urgently share with the Ministry any reports, details, dates, locations, or other information in his possession so that these matters can be fully investigated without delay.

“We have a moral and statutory responsibility to report and investigate these allegations in the shortest possible time. The safety and well-being of our children will and must always be our utmost priority,” the education minister added.

The JTA president, while addressing the opening ceremony of the JTA Education Conference 2026 on Tuesday, spoke of reports that students are being given a front-row seat to sex acts engaged in by Hurricane Melissa victims sheltering in some schools.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said it has not been officially notified of any case of inappropriate behaviour by shelterees, especially in circumstances involving children, at any school being used as a shelter.

It said checks have been conducted with the regional office that has direct oversight for the schools in question, and noted that the regional director, Dr Michelle Pinnock, has indicated that no such report was made to the region.

“The principals of schools currently operating as shelters were contacted, and none have confirmed that any such incident occurred on their compound. Nevertheless, the principals have requested additional time to undertake additional extraordinary due diligence, given the serious implications of the allegation. At present, there are 81 persons being accommodated across eight shelter sites,” the ministry said.

Additionally, the ministry said routine shelter visits conducted by the safety and security officer and the shelter managers have not yielded evidence to substantiate these allegations.

“The ministry meets with the JTA on a monthly basis, and these specific allegations were never raised in those meetings. Additionally, the Ministry was not made aware of the serious content of the public utterances of President Malabver before the statement was made yesterday, April 7, 2026,” it added.

The ministry said it takes all allegations affecting the safety and well-being of children seriously and will continue to treat this matter with urgency and care.  —KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC)