Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Tuesday that the Western Children’s Hospital will be named in honor of former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, recognizing her role in securing the partnership with China that helped bring the project to life.
Speaking at the MLSS Naming Ceremony, Holness said Simpson Miller had traveled to China, led negotiations, and returned with the agreement that laid the foundation for what is expected to become one of Jamaica’s most significant healthcare developments for children.
“It’s only proper and there was never any other intention,” Holness said. “Mama P was my mother, she usually called me her son,” he added jokingly. “But she’s always in my heart and we’re always good friends.”
The 220-bed specialist facility, now under construction at the compound of Cornwall Regional Hospital, is expected to become the first hospital of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. The project stems from negotiations led by Simpson Miller that resulted in funding support from China.
The Western Children’s Hospital is expected to strengthen pediatric healthcare services across western Jamaica and the wider country.
In March, the People’s National Party Patriots called on the government to name the facility in Simpson Miller’s honor.
“Her ascension to the highest political office was not only a personal triumph but a defining moment in Jamaica’s democratic development, a powerful affirmation that background must never limit destiny,” the Patriots said in a statement.
“The facility was conceptualized under Mrs. Simpson Miller’s leadership, and she personally traveled overseas to secure funding and international partnerships for its realization before demitting office following the 2016 general election. It stands today as a testament to her vision for equitable healthcare access for Jamaica’s children, particularly those in western Jamaica.”
The organization said Simpson Miller’s achievements continue to inspire Jamaicans from all walks of life and argued that naming the institution after her would serve as a fitting tribute to her legacy of public service.
“Nations must deliberately preserve and celebrate their trailblazers, and naming this vital institution after Mrs. Simpson Miller would be a fitting and unifying tribute to a leader whose life’s work was grounded in service to the most vulnerable,” the statement added.
