Hanover Infirmary generator damaged, investigation launched

THE HANOVER Municipal Corporation (HMC) has launched an investigation to determine why the new electrical generator, which was donated to the Hanover Infirmary late last year by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is now useless, owing to significant damage.

The need to replace the generator came to light as a result of a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development to the HMC, requesting an estimate for the purchase of another generator for the Infirmary.

While the matter was being discussed at yesterday’s Infrastructure and Traffic Management Committee meeting of the HMC, questions were raised about the possible circumstances that could have led to the extensive damage to the generator.

The committee was told that the generator was burnt as a result of a bad wiring connections. The meeting was also told that the suppliers of the generator, which was supposed to be on warranty, refused to touch it as there were signs that someone had tampered with it, apparently in an attempt to repair it.

“We need to do an investigation, Mr Chairman,” said Councillor Daren Barnes in seeking the input of Lucea’s Mayor, Sheridan Samuels, who is also the chairman of the HMC. “We need to know what happened here.”

Barnes was particularly peeved that the generator had been tampered with, leading to a breach in the terms of the warranty.

Like Barnes, Samuels was far from happy with the situation and supported his colleague’s call for a full investigation into the matter, with a view to taking action against whoever is found culpable.

“Somebody must have given the electrician instruction or permission to pull it (the generator) because if he pulled it on his own, it means that he would probably have to replace the unit if something is wrong with it,” said Samuels. “I would really like to get all the details.”

A motion was moved for the investigation to be conducted. The motion was carried with all four councillors present voting in favour of an investigation into the matter.

RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER Senator Kamina Johnson Smith (right), minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, in conversation yesterday with Ambassador Guy Sevriw (left), dean of the diplomatic corps, and Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, head of the European Union delegation to Jamaica, at the observance of Diplomatic Week at The Jamaica Pegasus.