All J’cans, 50 Chinese laid off as Western children’s hospital almost finished
Published:Friday | September 26, 2025 | 12:07 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Errol Greene, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, has confirmed that all Jamaican workers and 50 unskilled Chinese workers are no longer employed on the construction site of the new multibillion-dollar Western Child and Adolescent Hospital in Montego Bay. The project is now nearing completion.
Speaking with The Gleaner at Wednesday’s annual general meeting of the St James Chapter of the Jamaica Lay Magistrates Association, Greene explained that the layoffs occurred because there was simply no more work for them.
“They have laid off the local workers, and they are sending back some 50 of the Chinese who have nothing to do,” said Green, who noted that some specialist Chinese workers remained, finalising the project.
Just over a week ago, some Chinese workers, whose salary and other benefits are the responsibility of the Chinese government, took industrial action over unpaid wages, claiming that they had not been paid in six months.
Greene confirmed that they have since received their outstanding remuneration for work on the 220-bed hospital, which will provide medical services for children and adolescents up to age 18.
The Western Child and Adolescent Hospital is a gift to Jamaica from China, with the Chinese footing the full bill for construction.
However, Greene noted that once the hospital is completed, the Jamaican Government will need to allocate additional resources to fully operationalise it. The hospital is being built on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, which is also undergoing extensive renovations.
“Cornwall Regional is progressing. We’ll be moving next to put in the Records Department, and that is expected to be in before the end of the year,” said Greene. “It is expected to be completed as well before the end of the year. They are working on dietary, which should be placed by early next year.”
“The plan for Cornwall Regional is that by, say, September of next year, it should be completed,” added Greene.
Cornwall Regional is the only Type A hospital in western Jamaica. It has significally scaled down operations since 2017, when it was hit by a noxious fumes issue. The repairs, which were expected to cost $5 billion, have since ballooned to $23.5 billion.