Negril Chamber to repair out-of-service ambulance
Published:Tuesday | September 16, 2025 | 12:09 AMMickalia Kington/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
Negril’s already-fragile emergency response system has been thrown into a deeper crisis as residents and visitors to the tourism hub face weeks without a fully functioning ambulance.
Richard Wallace, chairman of the Negril Destination Assurance Council, told The Gleaner that efforts are under way to repair one of the town’s two ambulances, which has been sidelined for months. Repairs are being carried out by the Negril Chamber of Commerce through funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).
The vehicle is already at a garage for bodywork, but missing engine parts have slowed the process.
“The ambulance was picked up from the fire station. It was brought to [Sir Mac Auto] and it is being worked on as we speak. However, he discovered that there were a few more parts missing from it than [was] previously known. And so, we are in the process of trying to locate those parts or to reacquire them. And so, that’s providing a little delay because the initial assessment that was done, he didn’t realise that those parts were missing. But, it’s on the way,” said Wallace.
“The bodywork will be completed by [early this week], and they’ll start the spraying of the vehicle [right away]. However, bear in mind that we’re still waiting on some engine parts that were removed from the vehicle. And so, if that comes in a timely manner, within three to four weeks the ambulance will be ready to go back on the road.”
The first repair estimate stood at $1.1 million, a figure Wallace admitted would likely change but will still be fully covered by the TEF.
Additionally, Wallace hopes that the TEF will make it their goal to also repair the second ambulance, which has been out of commission for even longer; however, the issue is about more than just having adequate ambulances, says Wallace.
He raised concerns about the frequency of ambulance crashes in the parish, echoing frustrations expressed by locals.
“One of the things that we have asked from the fire department is for some reassurance that there is proper training for the drivers. Because it would appear, and a lot of citizens are complaining about it, that the ambulance seems to crash regularly. I mean, I’m not blaming the drivers. I know it’s not easy out there on the roadway today. And I understand that there’s a lot of indiscipline on the roads. However, we want to know that they are the best of the best that are driving these vehicles.”
Wallace said the chamber and other stakeholders hav historically stepped in to fill the gap whenever government resources fall short.
“The stakeholders – not just the chamber, but other organisations – have been helpful in maintaining ambulances here. We have got ambulances donated to us, and all of that. But it is very important to have one. And whenever there is none, we always advocate to the Government to replace it as soon as possible. And that’s what we did this time around as well.”
Although new ambulances would have been preferred by Negril residents and stakeholders, Wallace says a solution needed to be found in the interim – and quickly, too.
“This, what we are doing now in terms of repairing this one, was the quickest route to getting back an ambulance. And that’s why we chose this route. So, while the government is trying to acquire other ambulances or new ones, this is the fastest route to getting an ambulance back up and running.”