Mayor of Falmouth and Chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC), Councillor Collen Gager, has expressed strong confidence that residents of the Trelawny Infirmary who are currently sheltered at Hague Primary School will be successfully relocated to the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, following intense overnight work by his team

The residents were relocated to the shelter ahead of Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, October 28, which devastated the infirmary.

According to Mayor Gager, the TMC has been operating around the clock from Wednesday to prepare the Elleston Wakeland facility to receive the residents, as part of a major effort to ensure that Hague Primary is returned to normal operations in time for the new school term. “The work has been ongoing all night,” Mayor Gager said. “We are pleased with how far the project has reached.”

He explained that significant repairs have already been completed at the Elleston Wakeland Centre, including repairs of the roof and an extensive wash-down process, with only one section left to be completed.

Arrangements have also been made with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for electricity to be connected immediately, after which beds are scheduled to be delivered and laid out later today.

Once that is done, the relocation of the infirmary residents from Hague Primary will begin.

Mayor Gager further disclosed that as soon as the residents are moved, the corporation’s truck will deliver water to the school to facilitate a full wash-down and sanitisation of the facility. 

“The yard has already been bushed, and if there is more work to do, we will continue,” he said. “When the residents move out, the building will be returned to the school in proper condition.”

The mayor noted that classes at Hague Primary could resume as early as Monday, should the school administration so decide.

“I told Mr [Damien] Elvin, [principal of Hague Primary and Infant] that we will be out of the building by the latest Saturday morning, but we are pushing for tonight,” Gager stated. “He will determine the exact date for reopening, but everything is being done to ensure the school is ready.”

He also pointed to ongoing site works, including field bushing and clean-up, to complete the final preparations at the Elleston Wakeland Centre.

Mayor Gager is offering heartfelt thanks to the team on the ground. “I really want to thank my team. We have worked together very well, and it is that teamwork that has brought us to this point,” he said.

The Trelawny Municipal Corporation continues to assure residents and parents that every effort is being made to protect both the welfare of the infirmary residents and the education of the children, as the parish moves toward full normalcy.