TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Trelawny is set to pioneer the Government’s container-unit infirmary solution, with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie scheduled to officially open the island’s first facility of its kind in the parish on Thursday, November 19, in a development aimed at restoring critical care services disrupted by Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at the Trelawny Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) monthly meeting on Thursday, Mayor of Falmouth and TMC chairman Councillor C Junior Gager described the opening as a major occasion for the parish, saying Trelawny had become a showcase for pioneering initiatives.

“It is the first temporary site that is established in Jamaica using the containers, and it is indeed a beauty,” Gager said.

He said the municipality was keen to ensure that the facility and the significance of the project received widespread exposure, urging that arrangements be made for comprehensive social media coverage to showcase the development locally and internationally

Gager said the opening ceremony, scheduled for 11 am, would be attended by mayors from across the island, Members of Parliament, representatives of all municipalities and residents of the parish. Holness is expected to deliver the keynote address.

Describing the occasion as a big day for Trelawny, Gager said preparations would include decorating the facility on Wednesday, November 18, ahead of the ceremony.

The Trelawny Drop-In Centre, which provides basic amenities, meals, and health-related services to homeless and vulnerable people, was officially opened in July 2020. The adjacent homeless shelter followed in May 2023, providing overnight accommodation for up to 20 people.

The temporary infirmary is the latest intervention as the parish works to restore services following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which severely damaged the existing facility.

In the aftermath of the storm, infirmary residents were relocated to the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, where they have been accommodated pending arrangements for their transfer to alternative facilities.

The container-unit solution is expected to provide temporary accommodation for the residents while longer-term arrangements for the infirmary are pursued.