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Black River Hospital reopened on Wednesday following reconstruction costing more than $300 million, with expanded bed capacity and restored wards a year after Hurricane Melissa devastated the St Elizabeth facility, the Jamaica Observer reported. Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said the hospital was rebuilt within eight months. Its capacity has increased from 150 to 181 beds, while the nursery now has 20 cots, up from five. Two male wards, a female ward and the paediatric ward reopened, and the facility received two new ambulances. Speaking at the reopening, Holness said the rebuilt hospital had a slab roof and was more functional than before. He presented the project as an example of the Government’s efforts to restore critical services while pressing for faster delivery of public works. Much of his address focused on delays in contracting and procurement. Holness argued that ministers had needed to push officials to accelerate rebuilding, saying administrative processes should be applied promptly and according to the circumstances and legal requirements of each project. He maintained that government action must remain open to public scrutiny. Alongside that scrutiny, he called for greater attention to how efficiently projects are delivered, according to the Observer’s account of his remarks. The reopening also came with a warning about the hospital’s long-term location. Holness said that although the new roof could offer greater protection, a future weather event could still prevent people from reaching the seaside facility. He argued that repeatedly repairing public buildings in exposed locations would leave Jamaica facing further losses. The prime minister said Black River’s future development needed to account for climate risks in both the location of buildings and the financial resources set aside for disasters. He also pointed to the need to relocate residents in Parottee, while acknowledging people’s attachment to their communities, property and land. The Urban Development Corporation has been tasked with identifying land near Black River and developing plans for a more resilient urban centre, Holness said. He described an approach that would move critical services and businesses beyond areas vulnerable to inundation, allowing them to continue operating during and immediately after a major weather event. He said the intention was to preserve Black River while making strategic choices about which activities should remain in the historic town. Businesses and services capable of recovering quickly after storm damage could continue to operate there under the approach he outlined. Holness also announced that a mobile tax unit would begin serving Black River the following week. For the hospital, the immediate result is the reopening of four wards and increased capacity, even as the Government considers where critical services should be located over the longer term.
Black River Hospital reopened on Wednesday following reconstruction costing more than $300 million, with expanded bed capacity and restored wards a year after Hurricane Melissa devastated the St Elizabeth facility, the Jamaica Observer reported.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said the hospital was rebuilt within eight months. Its capacity has increased from 150 to 181 beds, while the nursery now has 20 cots, up from five. Two male wards, a female ward and the paediatric ward reopened, and the facility received two new ambulances.
Speaking at the reopening, Holness said the rebuilt hospital had a slab roof and was more functional than before. He presented the project as an example of the Government’s efforts to restore critical services while pressing for faster delivery of public works.
Much of his address focused on delays in contracting and procurement. Holness argued that ministers had needed to push officials to accelerate rebuilding, saying administrative processes should be applied promptly and according to the circumstances and legal requirements of each project.
He maintained that government action must remain open to public scrutiny. Alongside that scrutiny, he called for greater attention to how efficiently projects are delivered, according to the Observer’s account of his remarks.
The reopening also came with a warning about the hospital’s long-term location. Holness said that although the new roof could offer greater protection, a future weather event could still prevent people from reaching the seaside facility. He argued that repeatedly repairing public buildings in exposed locations would leave Jamaica facing further losses.
The prime minister said Black River’s future development needed to account for climate risks in both the location of buildings and the financial resources set aside for disasters. He also pointed to the need to relocate residents in Parottee, while acknowledging people’s attachment to their communities, property and land.
The Urban Development Corporation has been tasked with identifying land near Black River and developing plans for a more resilient urban centre, Holness said. He described an approach that would move critical services and businesses beyond areas vulnerable to inundation, allowing them to continue operating during and immediately after a major weather event.
He said the intention was to preserve Black River while making strategic choices about which activities should remain in the historic town. Businesses and services capable of recovering quickly after storm damage could continue to operate there under the approach he outlined.
Holness also announced that a mobile tax unit would begin serving Black River the following week. For the hospital, the immediate result is the reopening of four wards and increased capacity, even as the Government considers where critical services should be located over the longer term.
News Desk is the editorial publishing account for Tringlobe Media News, covering breaking news, public affairs, entertainment, community developments and regional stories across Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and internationally.
