Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

With the passing of the Disabilities Bill in Parliament, the St Catherine Parish Council has started to make those under its care have better access to its facilities.

This is in the form of the Spanish Town Infirmary which is being given several wheelchair ramps in a renovation project.

This was revealed by Minister of Local Government Noel Arscott during a tour of the infirmary on Wednesday.

Arscott revealed that he was very impressed with the St Catherine Parish Council's self-funded projects.

He said he was not only pleased that the infirmary will be equipped with the ramps that are being built for the physically challenged, but also with the new laundry and nurses' quarters.

He endorsed the fact that most of the 131 residents at the infirmary will live in better surroundings and staff morale will be boosted. It was revealed that the work being undertaken has cost the St Catherine Parish Council more than $30 million.

Arscott said that the local government ministry will be giving financial backing to the project which is to be completed by December.

Meanwhile Mayor of Spanish Town, Norman Scott, said the council will continue the initiative, and others, to make it more financially viable.