We welcome Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton’s announcement that the Government is moving to refurbish, upgrade, and, in some cases, replace critical public health facilities across Jamaica.

The proposed renewal of Black River, Falmouth, Noel Holmes, and Kingston Public hospitals, alongside improvements at Savanna-la-Mar and Cornwall Regional hospitals, and the planned commissioning of upgraded health centres, represents the kind of investment Jamaica desperately needs.

A stronger, climate-resilient public health infrastructure would be a major benefit to patients, health-care workers and the wider country.

But we will hold the applause as we have heard too many announcements from public officials over the years to become overly excited by another list of projects — no matter how impressive the plans sound.

Jamaicans have learned that there can be a considerable distance between what is announced at a press briefing and what is actually delivered on the ground.

That habit of announcing projects with great fanfare needs to change.

Public officials should spend less time celebrating what they intend to do and more time demonstrating what they have done.

Indeed, the Government’s own experience with Cornwall Regional Hospital should encourage a measure of caution.

What began in 2017 as an effort to address air quality and ventilation problems has expanded into a full-scale physical overhaul involving wet walls, burst pipes, and leaking roofs.

The project has endured repeated delays and missed targets, while the estimated cost has ballooned from about $2 billion to approximately $23 billion.

That is not an argument against fixing Cornwall Regional.

Quite the opposite.

It is an argument for better planning, realistic timelines, tighter project management, and greater accountability for public expenditure.

Against that background, the Government should understand why some Jamaicans will reserve their enthusiasm until they can see the promised facilities open, staffed, equipped, and functioning effectively.

There is, though, encouraging evidence of progress.

The minister says Black River Hospital is once again fully operational, while work at Falmouth, Noel Holmes, and Cornwall Regional is at various stages of completion.

Those are tangible developments and deserve recognition.

But, as we have said, announcements of what will happen are not accomplishments.

Cabinet approvals, ground-breaking ceremonies, renderings, and press conferences are steps along the way — not the destination.

And this applies beyond the health sector.

Jamaicans should also become more discerning consumers of political announcements.

We should place considerably more weight on completed roads than promised roads; functioning hospitals than proposed hospitals; working schools than announced school projects; and measurable improvements in public services than declarations about what is coming next.

The Government has an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to Jamaica’s health system.

We hope it does so.

But let the buildings rise, let the equipment arrive, let the doctors and nurses occupy their stations, and let patients actually receive better care.

Then, and only then, will the applause be fully deserved.