Give Eldemire is due

Dear Editor,

The position being taken by Mayor Harris of Montego Bay is based on treatment of Dr Herbert Eldemire (now deceased), former minister of health in the Government of the 1960's, as a bystander in the establishment of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH).

I was Minister of Finance in the late 1960's when a submission on the CRH was laid before Cabinet for approval. As is the practice, the comments of the Ministry of Finance must be included in the submission. The comments, which I put forward, as minister, was that the proposal for the CRH was too expensive and could not be afforded nor could some of the high-tech equipment be operated by local medical staff.

However, after a strong plea that the CRH was to serve the region and would require size to grow and equipment for serious medical treatment, Cabinet approved the proposal.

This would not have been the case had Dr Eldemire not forcefully pressed for the establishment of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

All credit should go to Dr Eldemire instead of undermining his legacy.

Edward Seaga

Office of the Distinguished Fellow

University of the West Indies

Mona Campus

Kingston 7

Give Eldemire is due

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