Minister McKenzie to Lead Technical Team to Royalton Hotel

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, will lead a technical team to the Royalton Negril Hotel in Hanover on Friday (May 13) and Saturday (May 14).

The visit follows the collapse of a section of the building currently under construction. Five workers were injured in the incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning (May 10).

During the two-day visit, the Minister is expected to meet with the principals of the hotel, and a technical team from the Hanover Parish Council for a full report on the incident.  A 30-day stop order has been placed on the project.

Minister McKenzie told JIS News that he is already in receipt of a preliminary report from the Parish Council which raises “serious cause for concern.”

The Local Government Minister has named a three-member team headed by Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency (NWA), E. G. Hunter, to investigate the circumstances that may have led to the collapse of the structure.

The other members are City Engineer, Norman Shand, and the Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dwight Wilson.

Meanwhile, Minister McKenzie informed that he has extended the investigation into other building projects being undertaken across the island.

He said he has requested Mayors to provide a list of hotels under construction in their parish.