Final documents signed for Marigot Hospital construction says PM Skerrit

Skerrit spoke at a press conference on Wednesday

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has said that the final documents have been signed for the construction of what he described as a “smart hospital” at Marigot.

In March this year, the Government of Dominica announced that the Government of Mexico has committed US$5-million for the construction of the hospital and on Wednesday morning, Skerrit said they have been “very firm” on that commitment.

He stated that the Government of Dominica has finalized all documents in the matter.

“We have finalized on our end all the documents,” he remarked. “I was able to sign the last set of documents last night I have to submit to the Government of Mexico and we are very grateful to them for their continued commitment and so we look forward to advancing the construction of this hospital that is needed even more now than prior to Hurricane Maria.”

According to Skerrit, the hospital will be “smart” and will be climate resilient with independent electricity and water supplies that will continue to operate in the event of a natural disaster.

“The design of this hospital has taken all of these climatic conditions into consideration,” he said. “So we continue to thank the Government of Mexico for their continued support.”

The Marigot hospital was shut down in 2016 due to mold and fungus infestation. Before that, it was shut down because of a severe termite infection.

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49 Comments

  1. Ideal
    December 9, 2017

    Mr P.M we will be waiting to see how soon the hospital will start building. We need that hospital ASAP, too many people in that area are dying and we need that hospital (smart) in the area close to the airport and by the way can you explain what a “smart” hospital contains?.

  2. Emile Dominique
    December 8, 2017

    Idea…planning …..programming……budgeting…..execution…. When you do not have the resources and have to depend on “hand outs” the time frame in these five steps are not under your control. Then you have the cost of the project…..Billion $ vs Million. The small project gets hidden in a file or computer the large one is treated with “dispatch”. Then you have the public administration in both donor and recipient that is too slow. Our needs are urgent and we need action now or we become impatient and angry
    It is important to remind the PM of the promises on his bucket list, but degrading him is not the way to go. We need more support and encouragement. Our criticizen should be more objective. If he can succeed in his “lies” we as Dominicans will be the beneficiary. Remember the ” China” and the “West” bridges they are for the use of everyone, Dominicans and visitors alike. Let us be more positive so that we can move forward as Dominicans, that is the only way.

    • December 8, 2017

      that’s the point ,it’s all lies so there is no sucess

  3. Neverson st jean
    December 8, 2017

    Dominica is the only country in the world where u can get away with that garbage talk

  4. Neverson st jean
    December 8, 2017

    U mnnot build a bridge to boetica but u talking about smart hospital
    Define what is a smart hospital to us who do not have phd. What a heap of garbage talk

  5. December 8, 2017

    can someone define what a smart hospital is, does it mean that u get healed as soon as u walk in . Inquiring minds want to know.

    • Yo Yo
      December 8, 2017

      lol you right maybe you go in the smart hospital press some buttons and heal yourself. pm can we get the app so we can get well via our smart phone while we home watching the tv with the black screen, smart hospital chupes.

  6. Han
    December 7, 2017

    Skerrit could the minister responsible for Health that announcement? This guy is too full of himself. He makes an announcement before the cameras , has no plans for anything and then flies out and flies in- yeap that us Skerrit for you.
    Skerrit you have other people with the title of minister if you did not know pretty-boy.-crap…..

  7. Dominican
    December 7, 2017

    The amount of Workers that on DNO when a story about the goverment or Skerrit is made is overwhelming haha…. I am neither for Workers or Labour right now, let’s just see who can do Dominica justice. All we see in the comments is stuff about the past and not on the present. Dominica will not get anywhere with so many ignorant people on such a small island, every other flipping island in the country is more advanced than Dominica because of people that rather criticize others rather than getting their own hands dirty. SKERRIT IS ONE DAMN MAN NOT GOD. Same goes with Linton, the politics in Dominica is worse than in the US.. If I was skerrit, I would step down and watch Dominica go to hell because of all this arrogant people here.

    PS: The more dislikes I get on this comment proves my statement is true. WORKERS ALONE.

    • Virginia Benjamin
      December 7, 2017

      You said it best, they need to stop the politics nonsence, put their hands to the plough and move Dominica foward!6

  8. Primrosette
    December 7, 2017

    All you they doh want Marigot hospital again lol look some sad people.

  9. shrewd
    December 6, 2017

    Last year you said everything was signed for the completion of the Moroccan hotel. 2014 you said you signed a MOU with the government of China for an international airport. signed with an airline company for direct flights from fort Lauderdale Florida to Dominica. The river side promenade. new road to Grandbay. Road from Rosalie to san-sovier. Five thousand new homes, five thousand jobs etc, and you just keep going on and on with your lies. Dominicans are just fed up with you and your lies, please go!!!!!

    • Dominican
      December 7, 2017

      What lies? You’ll say he is lying now and then when the hospital is built you are on your knees thanking him… Just shut up.

      • Zor Sot
        December 7, 2017

        You sure you aren’t a Skerritie ….. you indicated you aren’t a Labourite or a UWPite……Reckon you MUST be a Skerritie!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • Emile Dominique
      December 8, 2017

      Shrewd…..It is good to remind the PM of promises, but don’t you think you could do it in a more respectful manner.

  10. Roseau River
    December 6, 2017

    Any artist rendering of the future “smart hospital” available for public viewing?

  11. Trying to help
    December 6, 2017

    Heard all this for the last three years.The Health Minister said the plans were drawn and money allocated in the budget.
    What is a smart hospital?When did the consultation take place with health professionals?The people of Marigot?The elected Parliamentary Member?The build back better committee (still not formed)The PM has a record of failing to invest in this area and has no concept of equality.

  12. I Must Admit
    December 6, 2017

    @Is me and I alone I believe you 100%! Skerrit is a doctor even if is doctor of deception. As we know when we sick and go to the doctor they usually give us a pain killer to help us cope with the pain, though they know it will not bring healing. Doc. Skerrit is under a lot of pressure and realize majority of Dominicans no longer trust him, so he gave us a “FEEL GOOD” pill to see if we will not stop exposing him and his deception. But that not working nou pappy.

  13. December 6, 2017

    PM for the sake of my people on the ground and those of us who travel back and forth to Dominica, please keep your word? God for bid if there’s a catastrophe many will lose their lives . Remember Marigot is where the main airport is. That’s what frustrate me with this Government , They take so long to do the most important things Dominica needs. Put the needs of the country first and not the wants. Stop doing sot with Dominica monies ????

    • Dominican
      December 7, 2017

      This.. this right here.. I hate when Dominicans believe that everything can be done in a matter of days, it takes time. You can’t get what you need or want right away. They have to plan it out.. Where are they gonna get the money? Where will it be built? How many blocks? How many beams? How much cement? How will it look when it’s done? You have to think about these things. They are only human, they are not God. Rome wasn’t built in a day, remember that.

      • Zor Sot
        December 7, 2017

        Again….. you need to recognize you, for who you are hahahaha A skerritie……you doh tired go under people’s comments and defend skerrit…..

  14. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    December 6, 2017

    Okay Me Almost Nearly Cousin; (I doh feel like calling you Dr. Punjab) and the rest of the nice names I have given you today.

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a “smart hospital,” existing anywhere on this planet okay!

    I don’t know how you manage to deduce the things you say!

    Secondly, five million United States dollars seems to be equivalent to EC$13,400,000.00 dollars: That is thirteen million four hundred thousand dollars. So, my question to you Dr. Sir Knight Roosevelt Skerrit, what is that thirteen plus million dollars suppose to produce.

    Are we talking about just a building without any equipment such as MRI and CT machines, no operating theater ect? In a modern hospital, one one would anticipate modern equipments  like Magnetic Resonance, machines of which one may cost fifteen million dollars, so again my quest is what can we expect for EC$13,000,000.00 dollars? How many wards can we anticipate, and how come this time you…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      December 6, 2017

      How many Wards do we anticipate, and how come you have not yet produced an artists rendition, drawings of this “smart” hospital? You know perhaps you might convince me that there are smart blue prints used specifically in the building of smart hospitals. 

      The first of any, and all things can be found in Dominica: Soft loan exists only in Dominica. Smart Hospital; first of it kind to in the world to be built in Dominica.

      Once Athie Maarten (Martin) told me someone Venezuela or some other entity proposed building a Micro Refinery in Dominica, that would only employ seven (7) people. That would have to be the first earth, for there are no such thing as a micro refinery any place on this planet.

      May in out of space, I do not know because right I am afraid to fly to come home, never mind to go into outer space to search for soft loan, smart hospital, and micro refinery eh!

      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

      And the Dominica mentality continue to play!

    • Original Mahaut Man
      December 6, 2017

      I know that you are from the area why can’t you and all your negative friends set a go fund or raise some funds to donate one of the equiptment that you are talking about to the hospital.Take that into consideration.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        December 7, 2017

        Guy, if you are talking to me, you will wait indefinitely to get a hand out from me; you will never hear me give anything to Dominica government! The money Roosevelt gave to the Roman Catholics, and what he gave to his friends to build hotel, he should have used it t renovate the old Marigot hospital.

        If he did you would not have heard anything negative from me! And let it be know, be specific about it, I am not from “the area!” I am from the village of Wesley: As they term it; the parish of St. Andrew!

        I am a Wesley boy, and I am very proud of that! Don’t anticipate any free money from me unless you are a relative, otherwise that will not happen: Remember Skerrit told the Dominicans are better off than people living in America, and the rest of the Caribbean.

        Be reminded I am an American citizen too!

  15. marie-claire R Skerrit
    December 6, 2017

    that word (resilient) need to be retired cause they abusing that word resilient my sus

    • winston warrington
      December 7, 2017

      And stakeholders.

  16. Barbara Saunders
    December 6, 2017

    Boy you guys need some Clorox brand bleach to cleanse your mouths, your hearts, your thoughts and everything about you.

    I cannot understand how human beings can be so negative no matter what the subject, the time, the season, the experience, the situation! It’s just hate, hate, hate! distrust, distrust, distrust! misinformation, misinformation, misinformation!

    The government said months ago that the Government of Mexico was going to fund the Marigot hospital. What is there is the P.M.’s statement now that the final arrangements are being made to evoke that kind of viciousness that some of you are penning? When will this stop?

    I thought the hospital was a matter of life and death! there were midnight vigils; there were demonstrations etc. Now that it appears to be coming it is more negativity. I wish some of you could go live on your own island and give Dominica a chance to breathe some clean air. Sick of this “mauvais lang” culture visited upon DA.

    • Ibo France
      December 6, 2017

      @Babara Saunders. The people have every right to express skepticism about every word that emanates from the PM’s mouth. He has caused this on himself when he blatantly and maliciously lied about the coup. This was a dangerous lie. It could have caused total mayhem in the country. So even if the PM may be mouthing the truth, people would be naturally skeptical because of his adversarial relationship with the truth. A liar can never be trusted. Once a liar, always a liar. The PM’s soulless serial lying has become legendary.

      • Barbara Saunders
        December 7, 2017

        Ibo France
        And who determined he was lying? He said his intelligence told him a coup was being planned. The matter was investigated by an external agent who determined that he/they did not get supporting evidence for that claim or some such conclusion.

        He could well be lying but the only proof of that would have been if the investigations established that no source had indicated to him that a coup was being planned. There could well have been a coup plot but no evidence was found. If you live in Dominica and were anywhere close to Kennedy Avenue on that day to hear the inflammatory statements and calls to the crowd to disregard instructions from the Police you would conclude that we already had another commander in Chief who should be obeyed rather than the Police or any other authority.

        Ibo France, thankfully,”the people” are not all “you and others of like mind”. Dominica still has over 40,000 adults who have every right to reject your negative and destructive energy.

      • Emile Dominique
        December 8, 2017

        Ambo France….what do you call an action or activity that demand a change of government without election. When opposition forces demand that the government must go. When they decide that government should be desolved and they should replace the government and rule for a year then call new election……what do you call that…..constitutional and democratic ….Way way way papa (Dice) .

    • D/can to the bone
      December 6, 2017

      Yes Barbara S, I agreed with your comment. some people are just plain ignorat

      • D/can to the bone
        December 6, 2017

        ignorant Rather correction

      • Me
        December 6, 2017

        It takes one igno rat to recognise another

      • Emile Dominique
        December 8, 2017

        Dom/can to the bone….I agree with both you and Barbara. But Dominicans are not stupid or ignorant.We comprise of a people who are really very smart. We just do not take the time to be informed but take the convenient and easy way out by being negative. We do not take the time to objectively look at both sides of the issue, and to look for hidden motives. Just look at the dislikes vs the likes on postings

    • D/can to the bone
      December 6, 2017

      oops correction ignorant

    • UKDominican
      December 6, 2017

      Very simple Barbara, after 13 years as Prime Minister enriching himself everything Skerrit touches has a pong, a suspicious whiff. He is the reason a lot of us feel so negative, trust me. I was an original labour supporter but this set up has nothing to with the ideals of that party. It is more like Ali Baba and the forty karants, only worse.

      • Barbara Saunders
        December 7, 2017

        UKDominican

        So go right ahead and thrive on your negativity. I try my best to take positions based on fact and proof. Anybody can say anything about anyone and if they say it everyday of every week of every month people soon cannot determine fact from opinion. That’s easier to do than to prove it in court and when failure comes at the courts the accuser suddenly becomes the victim. The suffering endured by the accused doesn’t matter.

        For example, you have an issue with the PM’s alleged wealth and rightly so based on his Parliamentary salary. Have you ever asked yourself about the other side’s lifestyle jetsetting all over the world, meeting financial obligations etc. on an even smaller parliamentary salary?

        Logically, if they both have invisible incomes, am I likely to be jumping from the frying pan into the fire were the positions to flip? Should I then be suspicious of one and not the other?

        Sorry that’s just the way my mind works. Justice for all!

    • bause
      December 6, 2017

      Barbara. This hospital is $5M USD / $13 EC right? Is that the only fund for constructing the hospital? Is the government putting in anything.

      Cause that bridge in town they build and saying it’s $18M EC. if that bridge costs $18M, what kind of hospital we getting for $13M?

      • Barbara Saunders
        December 7, 2017

        bause
        That is a legitimate question, but better put to the government authorities. I am not one of the government authorities, just a Dominican who loves her country to the bone and I have no problem with legitimate questions.

        What I have a problem with is the mauvais lang culture which has been visited upon us for the last …….years. Don’t want to implicate anybody by stating the number of years but anyone who has been around and listened to radio and paid attention to social media would be able to analyse the cause.

        Is just curse anybody from President to cook, bad talk Dominica and Dominicans locally, regionally and internationally, link up with anybody be it crook or gangster to help them to accuse government of being crooks and gangsters. I guess it takes some to know some. I’m fed up!

        You know what? All of this barrage is having the opposite effect, it is in fact engendering sympathy for those on the receiving end because they are, after all human and…

      • bause
        December 7, 2017

        Barbara you know government don’t answer people question

  17. Pamala
    December 6, 2017

    Thanks so much if it’s true

  18. B VIDAL
    December 6, 2017

    HE forget about itn/al airport now he start with marigot hosptial again i hope he know that this time we have to vote with idcard let them think is dam fools they dealing with

  19. Is me and I alone
    December 6, 2017

    I wonder if is true. Mr lying so much. Something is telling me is because of the amount of blows he got for that $100k Petro Caribe money that he cannot account for and he must have seen how people expressed their distrust in him yesterday, after he received that $300 yesterday, so the Dr of deception came with that to see if people will not ease up on him. I just don’t believe a thing this fellow says.

    • The Guard
      December 6, 2017

      All you Dominicans can complain! Nothing good to say and always so ungrateful. That’s why allyou getting so much blows…Erica, Maria….still cannot just chill out. Damn!

      • JOE
        December 6, 2017

        The Guard it’s not all Dominicans is just a handful of idiots!!!!!!! We the grateful positive patriots are in the majority!!!!!!

      • Me
        December 6, 2017

        Pity you can not count beyond five Joe!

  20. Paul Rossnof
    December 6, 2017

    Don’t believe one word you are saying, Sir. We have heard it all before.
    My question, why did the government of Dominica have to wait for the funds from the government of Mexico to commence construction of this much needed hospital. I mean, the government of Dominica should have enough cash in its account to pay for this hospital immediately and out right, because there should be in the region of US$100M in this account. So what’s the problem? Or are telling us that money is not in the governments account? So where is the money then or more to the point in which bank account under who’s name is this money? It must be somewhere, because your friends from Venezuela clearly stated a couple of weeks ago that they have written that debt owed by Dominica off.
    Skerrit, we want you to call a press conference and tell the country the where abouts of this money or explain to us why Venezuela made that statement or perhaps is Venezuela lying???

  21. dee
    December 6, 2017

    Ok
    Lets go
    if for once you telling the truth about this hospital fiasco

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