Section of St. James Infirmary to be renovated to house CRH social cases

 

A section of the St. James Infirmary is to be renovated to house social cases from the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

 

Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon says the St. James Municipal Corporation is to partner with the Ministry of Health to restore an area that is no longer in use. 

 

The mayor says greater effort should be made to reduce the number of homeless people across the country.

 

"The [Cornwall Regional] Hospital has now entered the phased reopening stage. But they have the cases still, the social cases, and we are committed to that partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to provide the cases as we expand the services here and provide the opportunity for those who otherwise would be on hard times and who would be also homeless. And our mission is to reduce the number of homeless persons we have, not just to report that we have homeless people," he asserted. 

 

Mayor Vernon said the St. James Municipal Corporation hopes to, through partnership, construct more houses for the homeless. 

 

"On the matter of homelessness, we have made some strides. And last year...we partnered with Food for the Poor and provided homes for five persons who were formerly homeless. And we also provided opportunities for 15 persons who were homeless. They are now in a home that they rented because they are employed and able to pay rent. But there is opportunity abound to do much more. And I know that we have a caring minister, a minister that loves to ensure that the most vulnerable among us is looked after. And Montego Bay will benefit greatly, minister, from a transitional centre," suggested the mayor who was addressing the recent opening ceremony for a new kitchen at the St. James Infirmary. 

 

In response, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie agreed that the parish will benefit from a new transitional centre.