Minister of Local Government, Honourable Noel Arscott is this morning advising that the mayor of St. James is by no means opposed to the renaming of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

“I have spoken to Mayor Harris and he has assured me that his intent was misunderstood” said Minister Arscott.

In June of 2010 a resolution to rename the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the Dr. Herbert Eldermire Regional Hospital was sent by the St. James Parish Council to the Minister responsible for Local Government, who then referred it to the Ministry of Health. The then Minister of Health, Mr. Rudyard Spencer approved the renaming. This decision was and still is fully supported by the St. James Parish Council. Since the resolution has been gazetted, the St. James Parish council has sought to obtain a date for the ceremony from the body with responsibility for this activity, the Western Regional Health Authority; but numerous attempts have proven futile.

“Contrary to reports in the media, Mayor Harris was not trying to block the renaming exercise” Minister Arscott added.

There is still no date set for the ceremony; however, Minister Arscott said he has the assurance of the Mayor that the St James Parish Council stands ready, as has always been the case, to give its full support in the staging of the event.