Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
THREE DORMITORIES at the Port Antonio Infirmary, which were ordered closed due to their deplorable conditions by the local Public Health Department more than four months ago, have been renovated by a regiment from the Bermuda Army.
The large detachment of soldiers, in the parish on a training exercise with their Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) counterparts, carried out extensive repairs to the roof and floor area, and also made additional repairs to verandah rails and other sections of the facility.
ORDERED CLOSED
The three dormitories, which housed more than 30 inmates, were ordered closed last year after Public Health Inspectors deemed them unsafe for humans to occupy.
Mayor of Port Antonio, Rupert Kelly, expressed gratitude for the repair work done. Mayor Kelly noted that the resources were simply not available for the Portland Parish Council to carry out such expensive repairs.
"We have to thank our Bermudan friends for this warm and kind gesture," said Mayor Kelly. "Not only are we grateful for the repairs, but the infirmary will now be able to accommodate more persons, comfortably, in the newly-renovated dormitories."
