THE Saint Lucia government has signed onto a substantive loan agreement with the Saudi Arabian government for the completion of St Jude Hospital and upgrading of the George Odlum Stadium.
On Thursday, an official delegation from Saudi Arabia were on island for the USD75 million signing agreement for the hospital’s reconstruction.
At the function Prime Minister Philip J Pierre lamented the loss of more than $200 million in reconstruction works at the hospital from the time it was gutted by fire in 2009.
The prime minster queried as to why at least three former buildings were abandoned on the site while technical experts indicated there was no reason to stop reconstruction works on these buildings. He said the staff and ancillary support have worked under the “most trying conditions” and the patients, as well, have endured torrid times.
“We had to cultivate new friends, we have to cultivate new alliances,” stated Pierre, referring to charting new waters in an effort to upgrade national infrastructural projects.
He said following visits to the SJH site by Saudi technical experts, the Saudi head of delegation graciously consented to help the Saint Lucia government procure funding for the hospital’s reconstruction phase.
PM Pierre recalled that two respective technical teams visited the island to work out the negotiations and acknowledged the input from staffers at the Ministry of Finance to complete the signing agreement.
He explained that a “Disaster Clause” was included in the agreement, since a disaster clause make provisions for damages caused by natural hazards “for payments to cease” on the loan provided by the Saudi Arabian government.
“Because, too much of our debt has to be paid because of disasters …,” the prime minster added, stating the Saudis had consented to include this clause in the agreement.
PM Pierre said the loan involves, rehabilitation of the “Eastern wing, which contains out-patient clinics, a pharmacy, maternity wards and a neonatal care department”.
Works will also be undertaken on – the surgical wing, which includes the accident and emergency department, x-rays, the lab and surgical operating rooms; the Western wing, which houses the kitchen on the ground floor and administrative offices on the first floor; the Southern wing will be sealed and protected from “deterioration from natural occurrences and thus preserved for future expansion of the health facility”, the prime minister explained.
Pierre said construction works will also be carried out on sub-buildings on the property which includes the maintenance and laundry building, the physiotherapy building, the volunteer housing, the warehouse and “most importantly, the George Odlum Stadium …to be able to host various sporting games.”
He explained that the hospital project and renovations to the sports stadium will likely be completed by 2028.
However, Pierre added, work on the hospital buildings “will not stop” and “we expect the hospital buildings to be completed at the earliest possible opportunity, because we have secured the funding and we will continue work on the project.”
PM Pierre acknowledged the input of the Saudis in helping to deliver a fully functional hospital to prevent further suffering for the people of the south.
The USD 75M is a 20-year loan with a five-year grace period at 2% interest.
Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development H.E. Sultan Al- Marshad noted that Saint Lucia is the ninth country to receive funding for Saudi Fund for Development for a major “development project”. The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is a government entity that provides soft development loans and grants to finance projects and programmes in developing countries.
“Today, marks an exciting and bright chapter for both of our countries with the signing of this development loan agreement worth USD75 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the St Jude Hospital,” said the Saudi official.
He explained that this project signifies the Saudis commitment “to promoting sustainable development in Saint Lucia, by continuing to support the healthcare sector and social infrastructure”.
Added H.E. Al – Marshad: “The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the St Jude Hospital project aims to provide Integrated Medical Facilities with a capacity of almost 100 beds that offers secondary medical care to Saint Lucia’s population.
“Additionally, the hospital’s rehabilitation will include the enhancement of its resilience capabilities, thereby improving the stability and the resilience.”
The Saudi official asserted that, Saint Lucia’s population will benefit from many new facilities, including “a pharmacy, maternity wards, accident and emergency department and surgical operation rooms” among other units.
He said, this venture would help deliver an array of healthcare services and “crucially through this project, an important contribution will also be made towards creating employment in the health sector and helping to realise the United Nations (UN)- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDGs 3, which relates to good health and well-being and SDGs 8 decent work and economic worth.”
Tread cautiously in the Saudi Arabian sphere. However, it is an astute move append this codicil of protection in the case of natural emergency in this loan agreement.
As you have correctly observed, Mr. Pierre, the incidences fueled by global warming and climate change calls for flexibility and resilience in the management of such financial transactions with the big sharks of world finance.
Tread cautiously with the maxim left by the late Honorable John Compton-
ST. LUCIA IS NOT FOR SALE.
GOD bless you and your cabinet in this. Entire.