Grand Bahama’s healthcare infrastructure faces renewed scrutiny as authorities confirm the replacement of a malfunctioning refrigerated trailer used for body storage at Rand Memorial Hospital. This temporary solution highlights a deeper crisis: the prolonged delay in constructing a permanent morgue facility, originally promised for completion within seven months after a $1.6 million contract was signed in June 2022.
Public Hospitals Authority Managing Director Dr. Aubenette Rolle verified the defective trailer was swapped on Monday, calling it ‘fully functional’ while deflecting questions about allocated funds for the permanent morgue. The replacement comes after the previous temporary unit collapsed, reigniting concerns about the island’s inadequate deathcare infrastructure that has persisted since Hurricane Dorian’s devastation.
The stalled morgue project, awarded to Pinnacle Investment Company Limited, was designed to modernize facilities, expand capacity, and repair storm damage. Yet after more than two years, no substantial progress is visible. Opposition parliamentarian Kwasi Thompson (East Grand Bahama) condemned the situation as emblematic of governmental neglect and eroded accountability, stating the failure ‘undermines public confidence in handling larger issues.’
Adding to criticism, Omar Isaacs—Free National Movement candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini—lambasted the absence of a proper morgue as ‘unacceptable’ for what is considered the nation’s ‘second city.’ He accused the administration of consistent mismanagement and misplaced budgetary priorities, arguing that basic amenities remain overlooked despite repeated funding allocations.
Officials have historically emphasized the critical importance of reliable morgue services for respectful body storage, efficient autopsy procedures, and overall hospital operations. The continued reliance on temporary trailers since 2019’s hurricane reveals systemic infrastructure vulnerabilities and unfulfilled governmental commitments to Grand Bahamians.