$10M Earmarked for Repairs at Muirton Boys Home in Portland

Approximately $10 million has been set aside this fiscal year to undertake repairs at the Muirton Boys’ Home in Manchioneal, Portland.

This was disclosed by Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, during a visit to the home on Friday (April 26), where she met with residents and staff of the facility.

Miss Hanna informed that sections of the home, which sustained significant damage during the passage of Hurricane Sandy last year, will be repaired “as soon as possible”.

She noted that while work has already been done on some areas, there are still sections in need of rehabilitation. These include the roof and windows of the main dormitory, the house mother’s quarters, the outdoor bathrooms, and the living room ceiling.

The Muirton Boys’ Home is operated by the Child Development Agency (CDA), an agency of the Ministry, and caters to boys, age 12 to 17 years, who are deemed to be in need of care and protection.

The institution, which occupies approximately 29 acres of the Muirton Estate, a slave plantation up to 1838, is currently home to 26 boys, three of whom are in transitional housing, as they have aged out of the system. 

By Athaliah Reynolds-Baker, JIS Reporter