Staffers at Hanover MC sickened by ongoing mould problem
Published:Monday | September 16, 2024 | 12:05 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
The perennial mould problem, which has been plaguing the more than 100-year-old Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) headquarters in the parish capital, Lucea, is seemingly acting up again. Yesterday, staffers, as well as Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels, indicated that they and their colleagues have been falling ill in what they have all but labelled a ‘sick building’.
Before yesterday’s monthly meeting of the HMC, some members of staff complained to The Gleaner about staffers constantly coughing and suffering through other health challenges that they blame on the mould-filled offices. The problem is further compounded by collapsing ceilings and walls, a leaking roof, and improper ventilation due to the air-conditioning systems not working.
“This situation has made me sick and having to go to the doctor more than once over the last few months,” one staffer, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner.
One of her colleagues remarked, “Only a demonstration or some form of protest can let the administration of the corporation know that we are being seriously affected.”
The staffers acknowledged that administrators have made attempts to correct some of the problems by hiring persons to sanitise some sections of the building and using special paint on the walls, measures that are supposed to prevent the mould from spreading.
However, according to the workers, the measures have been ineffective as, whenever it rains, water continues to seep from the roof to the inside of the building, causing some ceiling areas to collapse, exposing the workers to more mould.
Samuels acknowledged to The Gleaner that he was aware of the situation and its seriousness while noting that the HMC administration has tried some remedial work but to no avail. He said the situation has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Local Government.
“Since the hurricane (Beryl), there has been a further deterioration within the building, and it has gotten so bad on us that it is almost uncontrollable now,” said Samuels. “I went into my office two days ago, and I could not sleep well last night as my chest area began to get tight, and I think that it is the mould in my office that is affecting my breathing.”
Samuels said he would not want the situation at the HMC to reach the levels that impacted the Cornwall Regional Hospital, which was forced to scale down its operations and relocate some of its services because of an issue with mould, which affected the hospital’s ventilation system.
“We are close, but we do not want it to reach the stage of a closing down,” said Samuels, who noted that the Hanover Health Department had already visited the HMC building and conducted air-quality tests. “We are awaiting those results.”
Samuels also made an appeal to the Ministry of Local Government for assistance in constructing a building to house the operations of the HMC. He wants the existing building, which is designated as a historical building, to be repaired and used as a civic centre, like the civic centre in Montego Bay, St James.
“We (the HMC) need a home. We need to remove from here, and they (the Ministry of Local Government) are aware of the conditions which we are in here,” said Samuels.
He said the HMC is actively considering reclaiming a building, located at the Watson Taylor Park complex, for the relocation of a section of the operations of the corporation.