$270 Million Allocated to Repair St. Elizabeth Infirmary

A major allocation of $270 million is in place to fully repair the hurricane-battered St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz, over the next five months as the Government moves to restore comfort and safety for the facility’s 46 vulnerable residents.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, told journalists that approximately $250 million has been allocated for repair works at the institution, in addition to some $17 million already spent.

The funding will address damage to the kitchen, laundry, sections of the male ward and staff quarters among other areas at the infirmary that suffered extensive damage by Hurricane Melissa last October.

“The rehabilitation is to be done in phases,” said Mr. McKenzie, who visited the infirmary on Thursday, January 22, to assess the work in progress and meet with staff.

He said the first phase of the project has already been completed and focused on stabilising the facility.

This included a clean-up exercise, the removal of hurricane debris, levelling of the grounds, repairs to the roof and securing the perimeter fence.

Mr. McKenzie said this initial work successfully restored the compound to a usable state.

“The second phase is putting up the retaining wall that is well in progress and the third phase will commence in short order, with specific instructions that the third phase be completed by March of this year, and then we go to the other phases of the work that are to be undertaken,” the Minister outlined.

Mr. McKenzie indicated that the facility’s restoration is a coordinated effort by the Ministry of Local Government, the Municipal Corporation, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, the Social Development Commission, and the Poor Relief Department.

He stated that the St. Elizabeth Infirmary is among several facilities across the country that are badly in need of rehabilitation. In fact, he pointed out that it will cost approximately $1.2 billion to repair all the infirmaries, many of which are over a century old.

The Minister pointed to ongoing work at some facilities, including the construction of a new infirmary in Trelawny and repairs to a damaged ward at the Westmoreland Infirmary.

“Within this whole question of reconstruction to deal with the critical areas such as our markets, that is one of real concern because we have seen devastation to the markets in Black River in St. Elizabeth, Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland, and the Charles Gordon Market in St. James. So, we’re looking at a hefty bill in terms of what it is going to cost to rebuild,” Mr. McKenzie explained.

For her part, Matron of the St. Elizabeth Infirmary, Bianca Mitchell Smith, said conditions at the facility have already begun to improve as a result of the ongoing works.

She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Local Government team, Municipal Corporation officials, police, the Inspector of Poor, councillors and infirmary staff for their support during the difficult period.

“The comfort level has improved for both the residents and staff. [Residents] can walk more freely and staff are able to care for them better as well,” Mrs. Mitchell Smith said.