Safety features are a major part of ongoing work at the West Bay Golden Age Home, Ministry of Community Affairs and Housing officials report.
The most recent development involved signing a contract for the installation of hurricane shutters. The contract was awarded to Affordable Shutters, following a public tendering process.
Minister of Community Affairs and Housing the Hon. Mike Adam, JP said that the new home is being constructed to hurricane standards, with safeguards in place to protect the elderly occupants.
“Together with the other hurricane-safety features, the shutters will make the home more secure for our seniors and save them the stress of having to move whenever a hurricane is forecast,” he said.
He explained that a problem associated with the previous facility was that the Department of Children and Family Services had to relocate residents to shelters, involving considerable cost and logistics work.
The upgraded facility, which is built to withstand a category 3 hurricane, will eliminate the need for such transfers except when the predicted hurricane is stronger.
A sprinkler system is another safety mechanism being installed at the home.
The Minister also said he has been advised that refurbishing work on the project is far advanced, with efforts now focused on completing internal fixtures.
Affordable Shutters Proprietor David Ebanks said: “I am pleased that as a small business we have been given us the opportunity to supply shutters to the Golden Age Home to protect our seniors.”
The shutters should be installed within the next two weeks, he said.
