LUCEA, Hanover — Councillors at the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) are fuming over the lack of a working washing machine at Noel Holmes Hospital. The Government-operated facility has been without the equipment for some time now, relying on the goodwill of a prominent private entity to have its laundry done.

The issue was brought to the fore at last Thursday’s meeting by Councillor Darren Barnes (People’s National Party, Riverside Division). Among others weighing were Deputy Mayor of Lucea Andria Dehaney Grant (PNP, Sandy Bay Division), who questioned Government’s priorities when expenditures are being made.

“You can’t have a country where you are spending billions of dollars to make new money and a place like a hospital that deals with COVID and stuff like that and you can’t have a washer that works. You have to be going to a private entity to wash for a hospital,” argued Grant, referencing the Jamaica Labour Party-led Government’s recent unveiling of plans to print new banknotes.

The State has said the new bank notes would be easier for use by those with vision impairments, are made of material that will enhance security measures, and will ensure that they last longer. The cost of the notes has not been made public.

While elected officials at the meeting conceded that medical officer of health for the Hanover Health Department Dr Kaushal Singh would not be able to answer their questions about the hospital, they wanted to ensure that he was aware of their concerns about the issue.

“Listening to what the Councillor Barnes has said, it has to be a very long period of time since that washer is down. So probably you think that you are telling us exactly what the situation is, but it is way beyond that,” Mayor Samuels said to Dr Singh.

According to Councillor Marvell Sewell (PNP, Green Island Division), the hospital has been without a working washer for quite some time and had, at one point, been using the washing machine at the Lucea Infirmary.

Dr Singh, who promised to pass on their concerns, noted that he had asked questions about the issue a week ago when it came to his attention and he is awaiting a response.

“Your sentiment will be communicated to the parish manager who has ultimate responsibility for this,” he said, adding that the situation will hopefully be rectified within a few days.