Councillor presses for new health centre in Waterford

Fenley Douglas, councillor for the Waterford division in Portmore, has criticised Robert Miller, member of parliament for St Catherine South East, and Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton for failing to deliver on a promise made in 2021 to construct a new health centre in Waterford, St Catherine.

At the monthly general meeting of the Portmore City Municipality held last Wednesday, Douglas accused Miller and Dr Tufton of reneging on their commitment, citing a February 9, 2021, Gleaner article which highlighted the dire conditions of the existing health centre.

These included improper medical waste disposal, doctor/patient privacy concerns, infrastructural deficiencies and the absence of an adequate waiting area to shelter patients from the elements, conditions which Douglas says continue to plague the health centre.

“These conditions have not improved since the 2021 Gleaner article. In fact they have gotten worse,” he argued, adding that the facility is ‘bursting at the seams’.

Douglas lamented that, “Three years and two months since the promise was made and nothing has been done. Yet in the next two months, I see where $1.5 billion will be expended to build health facilities in Old Harbour and Greater Portmore, as well as expand the St Jago Health Centre in Spanish Town – and Waterford is not included.”

Douglas criticised Miller’s stewardship in the constituency, challenging him to show completed projects using his Constituency Development Fund allotment.

However, Miller defended his track record, pointing to road repairs, drain cleaning, and beautification projects undertaken during his tenure.

He emphasised, “As the member of parliament, you can only lobby for the residents that you serve, but it is up to the ministry to do the final leg.”

Meanwhile, Health and Wellness minister Dr Christopher Tufton, when asked about Douglas’ concerns, said he did not have a full report specifically on the Waterford health centre.

He disclosed, however, that efforts are under way to improve a number of health centres in Portmore.

“The National Health Fund (NHF) along with the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) are doing some designs around improving a couple of health centres in Portmore. I don’t have the numbers but I think there could be one slated for improvement in Robert Miller’s constituency,” Tufton added.

Waterford is a municipal division in St Catherine South East constituency where Miller is the sitting member of parliament.