Taxi men lament CRH closure
Taxi operators who ply the Salem to downtown route in Montego Bay say business has slowed down drastically since the closure of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) and is pleading for hasty repairs to the 400-bed facility.
“Business bad since the Government shut down the hospital, di ting mash up,” said Charles, a taxi driver for almost three decades. “It is the worst I have seen, more taxis more than passenger now; but before this it was one of the busiest route, now I give thanks when I have two or three passengers.”
However, Kenworth Cummings is hopeful that the commuters from the various communities along the route will support them.
“If they get rid of the illegal taxis then I think we can break even or do a little better than that, until they finish doing their work,” he said.
REMEDIAL WORK
The CRH has been beset by airquality issues and remedial work is being done with support from the United Nations (UN) Office for Project Services and the Pan American Health Organization at a projected cost of approximately J$2 billion to undertake renovation works.
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told WESTERN STAR that he is hopeful that work at the facility will be completed by early next year.
“I allow margins of error, because of the nature of the repairs,” he said.