I understand sometimes the hesitancy around how resources are used to ensure the purpose for which those resources were raised,” Tufton told The Gleaner. “I want to say for the record that I respect and admire the efforts of Shaggy and his team for advocating for, and putting on, the fundraising event which they did. However, he acknowledged that such collaborations were sometimes hampered by mistrust over whether donations would be channelled towards intended purposes. Tufton cited Nichols’ donation as proof that public-private partnerships are feasible and desirable. The CHASE Fund, National Health Fund, Ministry of Health & Wellness, and the American Friends of Jamaica also funded the rehabilitation. Tufton praised the US$1-million donation from philanthropist Beverly Nichols that co-financed the J$309-million renovation of Chapelton Community Hospital in Clarendon. I don’t know what other information you got, but that’s what it is,” Packer told The Gleaner last Thursday, referencing Benjamin’s remarks. We are continuing with that mandate and that’s what is happening. All I know is we are moving forward with what was promised, which was five ICU beds. Packer has doubled down on her insistence that the funds would exclusively go to the project for which it was initially earmarked. Section 30 of the legislation bars charitable organisations from diverting donations made for specific causes to other purposes. Packer emphasised – months ago and again last week – that redirecting the funds to another cause would contravene the provisions of the Charity Act. Hospital officials could give no timeline on delivery. She (Rebecca) said she’d have to go back to them and amend it, and it’s a couple years now, and nothing has happened.”Ĭorrespondence from a recent meeting between the hospital and the foundation suggests that there may be a tweaked plan to “procure medical equipment” for the ICU as well as to “reconfigure the existing space from five to seven beds, with two for the isolation of infectious cases”. “They were supposed to go and get amendments done to that relief of taxes that was specifically for those units. We said we don’t need the intensive care beds anymore, could we use it for other purposes at Bustamante?” said Benjamin. And he said for them to change that, you have to go and reapply. For worthy causes, you can apply to them and get it stated that it’s for a good cause. He (Shaggy) said he had applied to the institution that gives you duty free. “There was a need for five intensive care beds at Bustamante, so unfortunately or fortunately, they put up a new wing which was the cardiac wing where children have heart surgery, so they had, in it, five or six extra intensive care beds. He told The Gleaner that a cardiac ward – outfitted with five ICUs – was built at the hospital through a partnership with the Heart Foundation and other stakeholders after the SMADF commitment.īenjamin said he had informed the foundation that the need for ICUs was no longer urgent and that funds could instead be rechannelled towards to the construction of a new facility to house parents waiting for their children to get treatment. “I am disappointed it’s taking so long,” said Benjamin, adding that the funds could go to several other worthy causes at the children’s hospital.īenjamin said that he made a request for funds to be redeployed to purchase equipment for proposed new wards. Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.īenjamin told The Gleaner that he, too, was disheartened at the delay.
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