Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
Ministry of Labour officials view the unfinished and damaged section of the Bahía Príncipe Hotel at Pear Tree Bottom, near Runaway Bay, St. Ann, yesterday. A section of the hotel lobby that was under construction collapsed, killing one worker and injuring others on Wednesday. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer
Work on the problem-plagued Bahía Príncipe Hotel construction site in Pear Tree Bottom, St. Ann, has been suspended for at least another five days.
The move is to facilitate investigations into the cause of Wednesday's accident at the site which cost the life of one employee, 40-year-old Linval Mitchell of Spanish Town, St. Catherine. Fifteen others were injured.
The period of the work stoppage will also be used to institute better safety practices on the site which has been plagued by numerous accidents since the project began last year.
Derrick Kellier, Minister of Labour and Social Security, gave the instructions following a tour of the work site yesterday during which he held meetings with the contractors and officials of the St. Ann Parish Council. The minister said that if everything is in place by next Tuesday, the work would be allowed to resume.
Structure checks
"First of all we have agreed that all structure checks will be done by the in-house engineer," Mr. Kellier said. "And before any further concrete work, in respect of the pouring of slabs can take place on the site, the superintendent of the St. Ann Parish Council must have the final signing off."
The Labour Minister said this would ensure that whenever casting was to be done, the workers on the site could be assured that every step had been taken to ensure their safety.
During the meeting, it was also decided that the area in which the accident took place on Wednesday would be properly secured to allow the investigation to take place without any hindrance.
Mr. Kellier said no workers would be allowed in that area and that no material will be removed until the investigation is concluded.
The Labour Minister said a special team comprising representatives of the St. Ann Parish Council, the Occupational Safety and Health Division of his ministry, and independent representatives nominated by the developers will be conducting the investigation. He said that, as soon as the team is in place he will expect a report within 14 days.
Yesterday the Pinero Group, the Spanish developers overseeing the construction of the hotel, said it would release a statement once investigations into the incident are completed. Ricardo Ardito, a spokesperson for the Pinero Group, told The Gleaner that "until the investigations are complete I cannot make a comment."
Mr. Ardito said that he expects a statement to be released within 24 hours.
