CLEAN UP EXERCISE PLANNED FOR ST ANN INFIRMARY
Saturday February 28, 2026
Following a tour of the St Ann Infirmary on Friday January 30, 2026, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie announced that his team will organize a workday exercise at the Infirmary.
The facility was heavily impacted by hurricane Melissa last October, and the remedial works that have been undertaken on the property has resulted in a buildup of debris.
“We were planning, for next month to have a clean up of the facility, we will be binging in the National Works Agency, along with the SDC, and the councillors, and solid waste to have a clean up of the facility to remove a lot of the debris that is here.” said Minister McKenzie.
Last November, the Minister led a team compromising of officers from the Ministry, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Social Development Commission and the National Solid Waste Management Authority to conduct an extensive clean up initiative at the St Elizabeth Infirmary that was also severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
The Matron of the Infirmary, Ms. Alicia Drummond, noted that staff were recuperating from the effects of hurricane Melissa.
“We are getting back on our feet, after six weeks in a shelter, we are pretty much getting back into our normal settings here… it was a rough period during the relocation… so, the staff they are coming around now, there was a bit of burn out before, but they are doing well, they are coming along”, said Drummond.
The St Ann Infirmary provides care for 71 residents, all of whom were relocated to a temporary facility prior to Melissa making landfall in Jamaica and were housed at that location for six weeks while the Infirmary underwent repairs.
The Workday is scheduled for Saturday February 28, 2026, at 10am.