Roof collapses at Royalton hotel in Trelawny - Three workers injured in early morning incident
Published:Monday | November 14, 2016 | 12:00 AMAdrian Frater
Western Bureau:
For the second time in nearly seven months, a section of an under-construction Royalton hotel in western Jamaica has collapsed, resulting in injuries to workers.
This time around, the property in question is the US$50-million Royalton Blue Water resort in Falmouth, Trelawny, which only recently opened its doors for business. The Gleaner understands that a section of the roof in the dining area collapsed, scattering material all over that section of the hotel.
While efforts to make contact with the hotel management proved futile, two workers confirmed to a Gleaner reporter who visited the location that a section of the roof had indeed collapsed, resulting in injuries to three crewmen.
Area usually busy
"Yes, it is true that a section of the roof collapsed and that three persons sustained injuries, but based on what I heard, the injuries are not serious," one worker said. "Had it not happened so late in the night, I am sure many more persons would have been injured, because it happened in an area that is usually busy."
The Gleaner was first alerted to the incident by a passer-by who said he was present when the roof collapsed at approximately 4 a.m.
"I was there this morning at 4 a.m. when part of the roof of the dining hall collapsed at the new Royalton Blue Water resort near Falmouth," the passer-by said. "It has been open for one week .... the exterior projecting lattice roof part ripped out of the side of the building and fell."
Efforts to get a comment from the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (formerly the Trelawny Parish Council) about the status of construction proved futile, as an employee at the corporation said only Falmouth Mayor Garth Wilkinson was authorised to speak on such matters, and he was not available.
"We are not authorised to divulge any information about building plans and permits. Those are matters you will have to discuss with the mayor," the employee said.
In the previous incident in western Jamaica, which occurred on May 10, in Negril, a section of the decking at the Blue Diamond Royalton collapsed, resulting in injuries to five construction workers. One of the workers was trapped in the rubble for hours before he was rescued.
Subsequent to that collapse, it was learnt that the contractors had been operating in breach of some of the guidelines stipulated by the Hanover Municipal Corporation. The revelation caused Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie to instruct the corporation to issue a 30-day stop order on the project.