SJHRP Set for Completion in September

THE St Jude Hospital Rehabilitation Project is set to enter its final phase of completion in September. The government has allocated USD 75 million from the Saudi Fund for Development to expedite the construction works. 

Contracts have been awarded to two firms, Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd (CIE) and Caribbean Consulting Engineers (CCE), to ensure the timely completion of the hospital. The final phase will focus on completing new wings, external works, and climate-proofing measures.

With the contracts set to be signed in September, significant progress is anticipated and the aim is to get the medical facility back into operation.

“The rest of the works will be completed pretty fast and we will make good headway …in the coming days,” CIE Construction Manager Pawan Joshi assured a recent government touring party. He added that there is ongoing progress at the site, with the more delicate aspects to be completed.

The group led by PM Pierre and including Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste and other government officials visited the site this week to assess the construction status.

Construction work on the fire ravaged St Jude Hospital Rehabilitation has not been without its share of controversy. Fire gutted the southern medical facility about 15 years ago, and ever since four successive governments have struggled to complete the remedial works at the site.

More recently, however, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration has committed to bringing this project to fruition. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip J Pierre there has been a shift in building policies geared to effectively manage the strategies for completion of this project.

During a “Public Health Insider” radio programme this week, SJH Reconstruction Project Liaison  officer Sylas Wilson reported that: “There are no more delays at St Jude.”

He added, “The contractor is mobilizing all of his resources to ensure that as soon as September 12 comes and the contracts are signed, we can hit the ground running.”

The government has awarded contracts to two firms for the hospital’s completion. The hired contractors include – CIE, which will handle the construction work, and CCE, which will oversee the project.

These firms were selected through an international tender process conducted by the Department of Economic Development within the Ministry of Finance.

“All of the contracts have been fully negotiated and vetted, and they’re ready for signing,” Wilson declared.

Notably, it is reported that an expansive amount of work will be undertaken to complete the hospital which includes constructing new wings, completing external works such as sewage systems and car parks, and implementing climate-proofing measures.

Phase One, which is approximately 70% complete, involved electrical and plumbing work in several key buildings including the Administrative Building, Physiotherapy Division, and Laundry and Kitchen areas.

Phase Two of the project will focus on completing the East Wing, Surgical Wing, and other remaining structures.

Upon completion of the southern medical facility, the structure will contain 12 buildings.