LUCEA, Hanover — The building that houses the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) is on the verge of being ordered closed unless major health concerns there are remedied.

A recent microbial air quality and surface swabs sample test conducted by the Hanover Health Department found that of 21 areas within the building tested, only three were satisfactory.

The test, which was conducted on March 12, found structural issues that are conducive to the growth of mould and other organisms. Among the issues found are allergens, environmental contaminants, and pathological organisms.

On Thursday, Medical Officer of Health for Hanover Dr Kaushal Singh told the HMC’s regular monthly general meeting that the findings indicate that staff, such as those in the planning department, are at risk for diseases and respiratory issues.

“The planning department has pathologic microorganisms, which means that once it goes into your system, it can cause diseases; respiratory problems included,” stated Dr Singh.

The health department’s recommendations are for the building to be fumigated, for pest control measures to be taken, for the building to be deep cleaned, ventilated, leaks repaired and correction of structural defects that are conducive for the growth of microorganisms mentioned in the report.

The building, made of cut stones on the ground floor and wood on the upper floor, was constructed around 1840. It originally served as the parish court before a new courthouse was constructed more than four decades ago.

After the meeting, Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels explained to the Jamaica Observer that the National Heritage Trust has to approve certain types of work before they can be carried out to the historic building.

He said the HMC has requested funding from the Ministry of Local Government to undertake urgent repairs to the structure. He is concerned about the toll the sick building is taking on the staff who work there.

“We are working here and come here every day breathing properly and slowly and surely your health starts to deteriorate over time. It means that it must be the environment that is causing this. If you notice, you will see staff covering their nose [with mask] and it must be something,” argued Samuels.

He noted that while the health department has carried out frequent tests, this is the first time that the results have been so alarming.

“We are seriously at risk. It is like we are here drinking poison to die. We are not saying that we are walking up a step and can fall at any time. This is serious. It is positively leading towards death and this is where we are,” said the mayor.

The Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James, which has been undergoing rehabilitation work for the past seven years, was faced with air quality issues which led to staff becoming sick. In making a comparison with the medical facility, Mayor Samuels said the situation is even more dire at the People’s National Party-controlled local authority in Hanover.

“The state of Cornwall Regional is minute to what is here now. Remember now, this is a far older building than Cornwall Regional. Cornwall Regional is like a joke to the Hanover Municipal Corporation building that we have to work in every day. And all we are asking the ministry and the Government to do, is to give us a proper working environment. Give us somewhere that we can work in,” appealed Samuels.

Deputy Mayor of Lucea Andria Dehaney Grant, who argued that the building requires urgent attention, suggested that the staff should move out if the health department’s recommendations are not implemented.

However, the Mayor pointed out that they have nowhere else to go.

“Where the parish library is, we own that land. Where the Social Development Commission (SDC) is, we own that land. We have land up by the [Noel Holmes] Hospital that is being used for a car park that they don’t have an agreement with and we don’t complain,” he noted.

He appears to be eyeing Watson Taylor Park as a potential site. But that has its own challenges.

“The Watson Taylor Park has a Youth Empowerment Centre that has been closed for over approximately eight years and they are not honouring their obligations in terms of paying the requisite peppercorn agreement. Now, we are saying that you don’t have any use for the building at all and we are saying to you, ‘Get out!’ Because our staff are facing serious challenges and we need to use a building to host the planning department,” added the mayor.

Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels is concerned about the toll the sick building is taking on the staff who work there.   (Photos: Anthony Lewis)

Medical Officer of Health for Hanover Dr Kaushal Singh says the parish’s municipal corporation employees are at risk for diseases and respiratory issues.