Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles yesterday met with the family of Jamaican farm worker, Clarford Tapper, who was recently killed in a motor vehicle accident while working on the overseas programme.

It was a tearful and emotional scene at the Ministry of Labour's North Street office when wife of the deceased, Creslyn Tapper, and three of his eight children were presented with bereavement benefits by the minister.

The family was given donations from the National Insurance Scheme and the Regional Labour Board.

"The Prime Minister has asked me to extend his condolences to the family," said Mr. Charles. "We mourn with you and pray that the family will remain strong through this time," he added.

The 53-year-old resident of Silver Springs district in Clarendon died after sustaining multiple injuries during a motor vehicle accident in October in the United States.

For a better life

Mr. Tapper first left Jamaica in 1984 to 'make a better life' for his family through the overseas employment programme. At the time of his death, the father of eight was working at the Veopel Farm in the U.S., where he had been employed since 1997.

Mrs. Tapper, who struggled to speak through her tears, told The Gleaner that her husband was a "good man".

Mr. Tapper is the fifth farm worker enrolled in the overseas programme to have died tragically since the start of the year.