by Brian Major
Last updated: 5:20 PM ET, Fri May 13, 2016
PHOTO: Royalton is building new resorts in Negril and Montego Bay. Shown here is the Royalton Blue Waters, slated to open in November. (Photo by Brian Major).
A section of a building under construction at a Royalton Luxury Resorts hotel in Negril, Jamaica collapsed Tuesday, injuring five workers, according to local press reports.
Earlier this month Royalton officials announced the launch of the Hideaway at Royalton, Negril, an adults-only section within the Royalton Negril Resort & Spa property, located on the site of the former Breezes Resorts property Grande Lido Negril. Royalton officials contacted Friday declined to comment on the collapse.
The extent of the workers' injuries was not clear. Some reports say three individuals were hospitalized, including one with a serious eye injury, while two were treated and released. Another report describes the incident as a building and scaffolding collapse that initially left one worker trapped.
The individual was dug from rubble by members of Jamaica's Fire Brigade Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The local parish has reportedly issued a stop work order on the hotel construction.
Jamaica tourism officials, including Paul Pennicook, director of tourism visited the construction site this week. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's tourism minister, dispatched the officials "as part of the Ministry's emergency response mechanism" to "provide whatever assistance they can," he said in a statement. Bartlett was attending a conference away from Jamaica this week. "The team will also report to me regarding the situation on the ground," he said.
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