The restrictions imposed on burials under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) have been lifted, paving the way for funerals to be held every day of the week. The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed Jamaica’s traditional context of funerals being held on a Saturday and Sunday, as burials were restricted only during the weekdays. The death-care industry found out that these orders were reversed through a statement released from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development last Saturday. A move welcomed but also criticized by the President of the Funeral Directors Association of Jamaica Melvin Honeyghan, who says the changes took effect like a thief in the night.
Honeyghan noted that it was a challenging period for funeral directors to adjust, but now they can operate as per usual. He adds that there are more pressing concerns, including the development of a regulatory framework for the funeral industry.
