St Catherine Councillors Press for New Municipal Building Amid Health Concerns

Members of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation used Thursday’s general meeting to again push for a new municipal headquarters, saying the present building is unfit for proper council work and is creating health concerns.

Minority Leader Councillor Theresa Turner-Flynn led the appeal, pointing to what she described as the worsening state of the historic property and the effect it is having on councillors.

"Mr Chairman, can you say when we will be able to sit in a comfortable environment to represent the people who elected us in an effective way?" she enquired.

Turner-Flynn said the building, which is more than a century old, does not provide a safe or healthy workplace. She cited mould growth and poor air quality as major concerns.

"There are moulds growing in the building and this is not healthy for us. The time has come for to be able to function in a [healthier] environment," she continued.

Deputy Mayor Ralston Wilson backed her position, saying the conditions in the building have affected him personally after long periods of exposure.

"I have never had such bad sinus before now and this environment is what has caused it, so I support Councillor Turner-Flynn in seeking answers to when we will be able to get out of this building," he said.

The corporation is housed in a structure built in 1762. The property was once used as a meeting place for Jamaica’s early government before the capital moved from Spanish Town to Kingston in 1872.

Councillors said the site remains a significant part of Jamaica’s heritage, but argued that elected representatives need a modern and healthier space to carry out their duties for the people of St Catherine.

Norman Scott, chairman of the Municipal Corporation and mayor of Spanish Town, gave only a brief response: "It is in the works."