Big boost for Lucea Infirmary - JamaicaObserver.com

Saturday, November 07, 2009 5:18 PM

Western News

Big boost for Lucea Infirmary

MARK CUMMINGS, Observer West senior reporter

Thursday, April 09, 2009

LUCEA, HANOVER -
The Hanover Parish Council has commenced a $2.7-million refurbishing exercise at the nearly 100-year-old buildings that house the Lucea Infirmary, in a bid to address the existing deplorable condition at the facility.

"The infirmary is in a bad, bad state and we are hoping to construct two new wards but before that, we are carrying out some work on the buildings there," chairman of the council Lloyd Hill, told the Observer West.

Hill said the refurbishing exercise is a precursor to the planned construction of a modern $164.7-million facility at the existing seafront location as opposed to the old cholera burial ground in Lucea and on lands in the Chester Castle area of the parish.

The old burial ground had been proposed by interests who thought that the residents should be relocated as a lot of money could be made from the prime real estate lands on which the current infirmary is located.

"Most of us did not agree to the reason given for the relocation. Some people believe that where the facility is now located is prime real estate and we could get a lot of money for it, so too the remote areas where land is not so costly. But we feel that these persons (infirmary residents) should not get the feeling that they are being rejected and that although they are now in a state of need, they have made a contribution to society and the present location should not be seen as too good for them," Hill explained.

Lloyd Hill

Already, CHASE has committed $20 million towards that project, for which funding is currently being sought.
Hill argued earlier this week that the funds being spent on the facility are not being wasted because the dining room area where most of the work is concentrated, will be used to house the residents during the construction period.

He added that the building will ultimately continue to serve as dining room and recreation area.

Apart from the dining room, repairs are also being done to the walls, windows, electrical wiring, roof and kitchen as well as a bathroom.

The conditions under which the more than 50 residents of the Lucea Infirmary are being kept have been a source of concern for more than 20 years.

The buildings on the property have been characterised by rotting boards, huge cracks in the walls, large holes in the ceilings and rusty zinc sheets, particularly in the male ward.

Other buildings, including the matrons quarters, dining areas and administrative offices are also a disgrace.

And while remedial work has been undertaken at the facility over the years, it has not been sufficient.

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