Archives Department Makes Progress in Salvaging Documents Following Fire Incident: Minister Munro-Knight Provides Update

Efforts to salvage documents at the Archives Department are continuing, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight.

Fortunately, she added, they did not lose as much as they thought they did during the fire at the Lazaretto, Black Rock, St Michael facility on June 17.

She gave a brief update at Jessamine Avenue, Bayville, St Michael, yesterday where the Office of Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement of the Prime Minister’s Office unveiled a monument that honoured various community leaders.

“From the reports I have gotten, it seems like we are doing quite well. We haven’t lost as much as we thought that we did.

“Several documents in conservation were taken from that block a week before. However, we want to be able to do a thorough analysis and then we will make decisions about a course of action,” Munro-Knight said.

She said she was awaiting another report that would chart their plans.

The fire, which occurred at Block D of the property, started because of a lightning strike.

Early reports indicated that Vestry records, City Council Records, records of the Mental (Psychiatric) Hospital and the General Hospital were impacted. (TG)