I'd really like to know what happened....not only did JPS fail but it appears so did both telcos. They all need to be held to account. How did we just lose power and all connectivity like that....in 2026.....
@mcewan_janiel Individual in charge of that visit the councilor location. I went to check on it once and the attitude I received was deplorable. So I have not received a call or any such communication from them. So no grant on my side
@mcewan_janiel Turned away with the advice of applying at the councilor office. When a visit to local councilor office was done, they didn't know what I was talking about. Took multiple visits. When I eventually filled the application I was told I would be contacted when the individual
@mcewan_janiel When I was unemployed. I tried applying. The individuals that should be providing us the information and help us sign up didn't even know what I was talking about. When they finally did a community outreach we were told we need the national id and invoice to apply so 97% were
8/ Jamaica, this story is still developing.
Have you, a family member, or someone in your community applied to the Solidarity Programme?
What was the experience like?
Was the process clear?
Was the outreach effective?
Did people even know they qualified?
Were the barriers procedural, technological, or informational?
MPs and councillors, what are your constituents telling you on the ground?
Because beyond the headlines and political exchanges, real Jamaicans are waiting to see whether solidarity becomes more than just the name of a programme.
Truth. Accountability. Results.
That is what the country is demanding now.
7/ This discussion should never descend into empty political theatre.
The Solidarity Programme was created with a serious purpose: reaching Jamaicans who often fall through the cracks of traditional support systems.
And to the Ministry’s credit, the public response and release of official figures demonstrate a willingness to engage the criticism directly.
That transparency is important in a democracy.
But transparency alone cannot be the final destination.
Execution matters. Accessibility matters. Public confidence matters.
6/ Key questions now facing policymakers, MPs, councillors, and the Ministry itself:
• Will the returned funds be specifically reassigned toward social support initiatives in the new fiscal year?
• What systems are being implemented to ensure approved applicants actually collect their grants before deadlines expire?
• Are constituency offices actively tracking vulnerable residents who may struggle with documentation, digital access, or awareness?
• What lessons has the Ministry identified for a possible second phase?
• Should future programmes maintain tight targeting, or adopt a broader safety-net approach during periods of economic pressure?
These are the conversations Jamaicans deserve to hear in full.
5/ To the Ministry’s credit, officials have stated that applicants who did not qualify were referred to other forms of support, including:
• HEART/NSTA Trust programmes
• labour market assistance
• documentation support services
• alternative social intervention pathways
That matters too.
But for many Jamaicans watching this unfold, one question continues to linger:
If the need on the ground remains so visible, how does such a large allocation go substantially unused?
That is the heart of the public concern.