$64Million Contract for New Hospital signed

By Mellica McPherson

 The construction of the new hospital is expected to take 18 months “from start to finish,” Deputy Chief Minister and Minister responsible for Health, Hon. Ronnie Skelton announced on Monday 22 January after he signed a $63.9 million dollar contract with Mirsand-Carimex-Quantum, for the construction of the new hospital building in Road Town. Minister Skelton described the signing as “a milestone for the BVI, since it is one of the biggest contracts ever signed by any administration in recent times.”

Mirsand-Carimex-Quantum is now tasked with the construction of a 150,000 square foot, six-storey facility on the excavated property directly behind the hospital extension.  This building will be based on designs that were completed by the Dallas architectural firm PageSoutherlandPage (PSP).  “The building will be less costly to cool, and less costly to outfit than the original designs,” he said.

The new hospital will include 128 beds, three standard-size operating theatres, at least two nursing stations to support each of the major hospital wards, three labour and delivery rooms, a physiotherapy wing, a new pharmacy, a medical records unit, psychiatric inpatient unit, a chapel, cafeteria, and a gift shop.

Hon. Skelton divulged that before the decision was made to construct this new structure Government examined the old hospital to assess its “ability to be renovated in order to provide the delivery of an improved level of healthcare.” However, he noted that based on findings, Government determined that the existing building could continue to be used for some services.

The Minister of Health disclosed some of Government’s expectation for the new hospital, which include the provision of needed space for modernization and additional types of services for the people of the BVI and “others who reside among us”; accommodation for patients who are on dialysis or requiring other types of regular treatments not previously available in the BVI; and timely and professional services to patients. In addition to that, Hon. Skelton said that Government wants the new hospital to “carry us for 50 to 60 years into the future and therefore (have) the necessary space for future expansion”; be a facility that provides a comfortable/pleasant work environment for the staff with state of the art equipment for optimal performance of the employees; and to make available the space for health tourism to become an option for the future growth of the BVI’s economy.

Mr. Skelton stated that he was fully aware that no building project will be able to provide the solution for all of the Territory’s healthcare needs. However, he pointed out that this project “will enhance the framework for meeting the healthcare requirements of all the people of this Territory.”

Chief Minster, Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith declared that once the work begins on this hospital, something fundamental will change in the BVI: “For a very long time we were a poor and isolated place; and more recently we have become a dynamic and developing community – but now, with this hospital standing as our greatest symbol, we will enter the third great era of the BVI – the era of empowerment and opportunity. With this hospital, we complete the long national project of providing for our people the basic infrastructure of modern life. With this structure in place, our people will finally be liberated to focus the full measure of their attention and energy to the task of personal fulfillment and self-actualization,” Hon. Smith proclaimed.

Dr. Smith noted that the new hospital will require much work and much commitment: “We have long, hard days ahead, but in the end, the hospital shall stand. Its doors shall open, and into it shall come the sick and all those in need of care – and there they shall find comfort – and a new day shall dawn for us all,” he said.

The Chief Minister exhorted the people of the BVI to learn more about the plans for this new hospital, and feel free to ask questions and raise their concerns. He also asked them to remember the hospital project in their prayers: “Ask God to bless and protect this great work that it may be completed with skill and with wisdom – and that it may be equal to the vision which inspired it.”

President of Carimex, Mr. Jose Ramon Brea said that he was going to reserve his remarks until the hospital has been completed. Nevertheless, he did promise to have the project delivered on time and within budget.