Wilson wants new contractor on Savanna-la-Mar Infirmary project

Morland Wilson, the member of parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Western, has called for the dismissal of the contractor that has been engaged to construct a matron's quarters and male ward at the Savanna-la-Mar Infirmary.

Wilson, a first-term MP, while speaking in the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, said that the failure of the contractor to complete the work means that the hospital is unable to rid itself of more than 20 social patients who now occupy its beds.

"Some $42 million was disbursed as far back as 2017 to construct the matron's quarters and male ward at the Savanna-la-Mar Infirmary. Three years later, the project is still incomplete with some 20-plus social cases occupying much-needed beds within the hospital," Wilson said.

"I would like to see this project recalled, thereby dismissing the contractor and new arrangements made. The people deserve better, the people deserve a system that works for them," he added.

In July, the management committee of Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital said that some 25 persons who have been abandoned by their relatives are now taking up much-needed bed space at the facility." Some of the persons have been discharged from medical care since 2008.

However, Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar Bertel Moore, when contacted for comments, told THE WEEKEND STAR that work on the matron's quarters and male ward is projected to be completed by year's end.

He said that the matron's quarters is 99.9 per cent complete. "All we have left to do now is to put furniture in there," the mayor said, while adding that they have received an estimate for the roofing of the building to house the male ward.

Westmoreland had one the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the country. The parish of 144,103 inhabitants has recorded approximately 5,000 cases with 167 deaths. Some 33,245 residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with 12,000 of the persons there being fully vaccinated.