FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC) is considering the relocation the parish infirmary, which suffered major damage during the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

The infirmary is located near Falmouth’s seashore.

Speaking with the media after Thursday’s monthly meeting of the TMC, Mayor and Chairman C Junior Gager said he is not averse to moving the infirmary to a safer location where residents don’t have to face evacuation during impending hurricanes. Ahead of Hurricane Beryl 54 residents of the infirmary were sent to safety at Hague Primary School, and they had to stay in the shelter longer than expected because of the extensive damage to the building.

The mayor said the issue of relocation would be raised during his next sit-down with Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie.

“I believe that would be great, but it’s just that it is a discussion that we would have to have [dialogue] with the minister because you know that is big money and we would have to identify the spot and all of that,” Gager said.

“It is something we need to look at, and I promise at the next meeting I am going to take it up with the minister,” he said.

Gager was speaking to reporters following Thursday’s regular monthly meeting of Trelawny Municipal Corporation in Falmouth where he announced that the hurricane has left the council with an estimated $30 million in repairs due to the damage.

He said 12 shelters were occupied after the Emergency Operation Centre was set up on July 2, the day before the hurricane. In addition to the infirmary residents housed at Hague Primary School, there were also a number of social cases from Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James. Up to Thursday, only the shelter at Hague Primary School remained open as repairs to the Trelawny Infirmary continued.

The roof and picket fence were damaged. Gager said he expected completion was Friday, at the latest.

Repairs were also underway at the Poor Relief Department located beside the Trelawny Infirmary; and there was also damage done to Falmouth Market and Falmouth Transportation Centre where the bus shed was torn down by the hurricane’s strong winds.