WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A team from the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is expected to inspect an ambulance, assigned to the resort town of Negril, that has been sitting in a garage for months while efforts are simultaneously underway to settle outstanding repair bills.

Negril spans the constituencies of Hanover Western and Westmoreland Western.

“The chamber has written a letter to the TEF [Tourism Enhancement Fund], and we are working together with the TEF to apply for the extra funding that is necessary to be able to bring this ambulance back up to speed, so to speak. The office of the fire commissioner has committed to coming down early [this] week to do an evaluation of the ambulance, both aesthetically and mechanically,” president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce Damion Salmon, said during a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer.

The development follows a meeting held via Zoom last week Monday between the chamber, TEF, the JFB, and the operator of the garage repairing the vehicle.

The ambulance being transported from the Negril fire station to the workshop.

The ambulance is one of two units donated to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department of the Negril branch of the JFB, both of which were subsequently involved in crashes. The newer unit of the two was donated approximately three years ago.

Faced with a lack of emergency transport, the Negril Chamber of Commerce petitioned TEF for assistance, as reported by the Jamaica Observer in April. The TEF board subsequently approved $1.16 million to repair one of the damaged units.

An initial $500,000 was paid to the garage operator. Although the remaining sum of $660,000 has since been disbursed, the total cost ballooned to $2.1 million after additional mechanical issues were uncovered during the repair process.

On Monday, TEF Executive Director Dr Carey Wallace confirmed Tuesday’s scheduled visit and acknowledged receipt of a formal letter from the chamber requesting support for the additional funds.

“This is something that would have to go to our board,” stated Wallace, who noted that TEF is “looking at ensuring that we get the ambulance as quickly as possible back in operation.”

He added that the TEF board is scheduled to meet next Wednesday.

While the original estimate has increased significantly, Wallace said TEF believes the “garage operator was sincere in finding other challenges that made the cost go up quite a bit.”

“It’s all justified and reasonable in my opinion,” he assured.

“Of course, you’re having cross-checks with inspections, not just by the fire department, but representatives from the Negril Chamber to ensure that indeed it’s value for money, because it’s public funds that we will be spending. Money is limited, so it is value for money. And we are confident that it is,” added Wallace.

In short order, Negril is expected to have an ambulance in excellent working condition. However, the chamber president noted that a few final touches, such as replacing all four tyres, remain before the vehicle is handed over.

“The only other thing0 that needs to happen to it is that, because it was repainted in certain sections, there are the new decals that need to go onto it that identify it as an ambulance, that identify it with the TEF logo, and identify it with the chamber of commerce logo,” stated Salmon.