Cornwall honour for Eldemire

The Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St James, is to be renamed in honour of former government minister, the late Dr Herbert Eldemire.

In making the announcement yesterday, minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, acknowledged the work of Eldemire, who died at age 79 in May.

"Dr Eldemire, who served as minister of health and member of parliament ... was influential in the establishment of the Cornwall Regional Hospital," Vaz told the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.

"Cabinet determined that renaming the hospital in his honour would be a fitting tribute to his contribution and his work," he added.

Eldemire served as minister of health from 1962-1972 and was responsible for, among other things, the establishment of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the School of Nursing and the introduction of the National Family Planning Programme.

He was elected to Parliament for a third term from 1976 to 1980.

Eldemire served as chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1967 to 1972. As a physician, he maintained a large private practice in Montego Bay for more than 40 years.