Heavy-duty equipment yesterday continued digging at the old cholera cemetery in St Andrew where a commercial development is planned.

The work, which began a few weeks ago and gathered pace last weekend, is being carried out against the backdrop of concerns raised by residents about the possibility of a return of the disease.

The privately owned land, located at Waterloo and West King’s House roads, is where victims of an 1860 cholera outbreak are buried.

Last December, chief medical officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr Winston De La Haye, assured residents that there is no medical cause for concern regarding the proposed development.

“We have done extensive research and we have established, absolutely on medical grounds, that there is no reason for concern, based on the scientific evidence available internationally. Even if they went 2,000 feet down, there is absolutely no cause for concern on medical grounds,” he said.

Dr De La Haye gave the assurance while responding to questions at a town hall meeting to discuss the concerns.

At the same time, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said he was satisfied with the approach taken by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAC) in approving the development.

Her said that the KSAC sought and received formal advice from the National Environment and Planning Agency and the Ministry of Health prior to its decision to approve the project.