New hospital construction viewed as contributor to Dominica’s economy

Heavy equipment at the site of the hospital construction

Prime Minister and Minister and Minister for Finance Roosevelt Skerrit has stated that the construction of the new national hospital is having a “tremendous impact” on the Dominican economy.

Speaking at a meeting held at the construction site recently, Skerrit said that there are currently 42 Dominicans working on site who are “full time employed directly by the company.”

“You have also a number of the procurements of goods and services from Dominican individuals and businesses. Cement, aggregate, sand, heavy equipment operations and the list can go on and on. The blocks and so forth will all be procured from places in Dominica,” he said.

According to him, “quite a bit” of the monies are spent in Dominica notwithstanding the imports of certain building materials which are not produced on island.

Skerrit went on to say that the impact the construction is having and will have on the economy is “significant,” however the main concern is the quality of the healthcare the facility will provide.

“But for us in the government, our primary interest is the impact on health care and health care delivery in Dominica. Because this government has placed tremendous efforts and attention on health care and these are two areas which we do not compromise on; healthcare and education,” he stated.

The hospital is funded the People’s Republic of China.

The $40-million facility will include 16,500 square meters of new construction, 4,160 square meters of general repairs to existing buildings which will not be demolished, 400 meters of roof guttering, and a total number of 372 beds, as opposed to the current 230 beds.

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11 Comments

  1. Jon Jones
    January 26, 2017

    This myth of a new hospital continues. The PMH is getting a makeover, thats all. If Dominica was ever getting a new hospital then there would be 2 hospitals. How can we already have one hospital. get told of a new one coming yet still have only one when it arrives.
    This Govt needs to stop fooling people with words – the PMH got upgraded, nothing more, nothing less.

  2. Over it...
    January 25, 2017

    Contributor to economy… How? How? How? How?

    • Anonymous
      January 26, 2017

      Just like the VAT. Remember Ian Douglas saying that VAT is the backbone of our economy?

  3. already taxed beyond my breaking point
    January 25, 2017

    madness. a hospital can never contribute to building an economy. just like school or road. nonsense!

  4. fan-cho-yo
    January 25, 2017

    “You have also a number of the procurements of goods and services from Dominican individuals and businesses. Cement, aggregate, sand, heavy equipment operations and the list can go on and on. The blocks and so forth will all be procured from places in Dominica,” he said.
    Hope they continue! Mr P.M tell them not to bring in the “dump” material into Dominica. take a good look at the stadium the roof is all gone. the paint is dilapidated! Go to the state house look at the roof, it has all change color, from green to what i don’t know now.

    Harris paint manufacture paint in Dominica, M&J Covering manufacture galvanized in Dominica, so why import when building materials a manufactured in Dominica. I can almost guaranty that dragon windows will get their product pace in the hospital because they a Chines too. BUT THE LOCAL MANUFACTURES WILL BE BY PASS. Just take example on the stadium, the state house, the Moroccan famous white elephant, the coffee plan, and ask me how many of our…

  5. Kincaid Mawish, JD
    January 25, 2017

    Dr. Skerrit, Sir, well done!

    Nice to see the CBI money is finally being put to local good.

    • Titiwi
      January 25, 2017

      Dr. Skerrit? You still persist in that ambarrassing myth? I quote from the Sun of 28 Nov. 2016, which gave the UNESCO’s pronouncement on the subject of such titles;
      “Honorary doctorates awarded by universities on the basis of other considerations and not research work are not recognised for the purposes of educational attainments”.
      We are Unesco members and our Minister of education is the chairman for this august body in Dominica. I am sure that neither he, nor the P.M. himself would take public issue with this definition.

      • The Darkness
        January 25, 2017

        ambarrassing ???? explain the meaning of this spelling.

        Also, I agree with your general statement.

  6. Prophet
    January 25, 2017

    Great work in the right direction. Health is paramount in every society.

  7. Malgraysa
    January 25, 2017

    Mr. Skerrit whilst the construction of this facility will contribute to gdp, it is not a revenue generating project. I welcome a new hospital, of course, but this is not a commercial enterprise and will be a cost factor on our national budget. and that is normal. However, we should not present it for what it is not. It is not a factory, assembly – or processing plant that generates added value.

    • google
      January 25, 2017

      Why not Private sector to build factory or processing plant?

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