FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Even though work on sections of the $150-million structure that will temporarily house the Trelawny Infirmary has been slowed by persistent rain, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has given an assurance that the project remains on track and within budget.

The infirmary, which is run by the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, was severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, forcing the relocation of residents to the retrofitted Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth. Speaking during a recent tour of the construction site in Falmouth, McKenzie said he was pleased with the pace of the project.

“I am very happy, very comfortable, because I’m seeing the kind of progress that I anticipated. I want to commend the team, the technical team, the mayor and especially the contractor. He gave a commitment of a particular deadline. And I have to confess that we are seeing those deadlines. I don’t want to say by when we will have full completion of phase one, but I’m expecting phase one to come to its conclusion very shortly,” said the minister.

“We’re spending the money, we do the work, and I must say that so far we have been working within the budget. It is also fair to say that we are working within the time that has been set by the contractor,” he added.

McKenzie pointed out that significant milestones have already been achieved.

“The foundation has been completed and, as you can see, one of the units has been completed. By later this week, the team from Kingston will come in to lay the remaining containers and to start the retrofitting of the units. We are putting down six units that will facilitate both male and female residents,” McKenzie said last week.

The first phase of the project, estimated to cost $65 million, involves construction of residential facilities, including male and female bathrooms. McKenzie noted that phase two will cover administrative offices, a washroom, kitchen and other support facilities adjacent to the residential units.

“The work that we are doing here is a part of the overall work that we are doing as it relates to the poor relief system in Trelawny. The question of relocation of the staff in the Poor Relief Department is being addressed, and they will soon have a proper location to operate out of,” the minister assured.

“I just want to appeal to the general public for some patience, for some understanding while we go through the process of doing the work. We’re putting in all the work that is necessary. We’re putting in a proper sewage system that will allow the smooth discharge and treatment of the waste that comes out of the facility,” he added.

McKenzie also announced that the project will now fall under the direct oversight of Delroy Williams, state minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

Williams, who thanked the minister for the confidence placed in him by having him head such a significant project, also spoke of the importance of the work being done.

“The Poor Relief Department is a critical component of local governance in this country, and it’s something that we at the ministry have been committed to in terms of improving our system of poor relief delivery across the country. This project is in line and is aligned to that policy direction and to our programmes across the ministry and it will be spread across the country,” Williams pointed out.

Mayor of Falmouth C Junior Gager expressed gratitude for the development, noting the relief it will bring to residents and staff.

“I just want to say thanks for improving the lives of our residents here and, of course, giving us a new building,” he said.

“I’m happy because this time, the residents will be able to stay one place. When you are having a hurricane coming, we won’t have to be moving them up, because that alone adds stress to them,” the mayor added.

Matron of the Trelawny Infirmary Tracy-Ann Bell said residents are eagerly anticipating the move.

“Every day that I go to the infirmary residents are asking, ‘How we house coming on?’ And I’m saying to them, ‘Just bear a little more; it will soon be finished.’ They are waiting patiently for their new home,” Bell said.

McKenzie reiterated, however, that the new facility is not intended to be permanent.

He disclosed that corporate Jamaica has also thrown its support behind the initiative.

“Adam Stewart from Sandals and Roy Lafayette from Desnoes and Geddes have donated six AC [air-conditioning] units that will be placed in all of the units. So they will have comfort in the units,” McKenzie said.

The containerised units are designed to last between 10 and 12 years and to withstand future storms.

Chief engineering officer of the Roads and Works Department at the Trelawny Municipal Corporation Kayon Hall (centre) makes a point, last Thursday, to Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie on the site of the under-construction temporary facility to house residents of the Trelawny Infirmary in Falmouth. Partly hidden is Delroy Williams (left), state minister in the Ministry of Local Government. (Photo: Horace Hines)

The first of six prefabricated units set up on site in Falmouth to house residents of the Trelawny Infirmary. (Photo: Horace Hines)