Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph says the government is awaiting a formal report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) before relocating operations from the Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital to a new facility purchased for $13 million.
Joseph said the site, acquired last year, will undergo a full redesign to create a modern mental health campus that meets international standards. He stressed that the government would not rush the move until it receives professional guidance from PAHO, which recently conducted an evaluation of the property.
“I am anxious to see the relocation of Clarevue,” Joseph said, “but not at the expense of doing the wrong thing. We must wait for PAHO’s recommendations before we proceed.”
The health minister explained that the new facility will provide a therapeutic environment focused on treatment and rehabilitation, moving away from the “colonial concept of isolation” that defined older psychiatric institutions.
As an interim measure, Joseph said an unused building at Clarevue will be rehabilitated to provide improved accommodation and additional treatment space for patients until the transition is complete.
He also confirmed that the government has expanded the country’s psychiatric staff to four doctors, the highest in its history, as part of efforts to strengthen mental health services nationwide.
