It appears that all the I’s are now dotted and the T’s crossed with regards to the China-funded new Princess Margaret Hospital and groundbreaking for the facility will be held in the first quarter of 2016.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that “everything is settled” between the governments of Dominica and China on the construction of the institution.
“We should have the ground breaking ceremony of construction to commence in the first quarter of 2016, now that everything has been settled between both sides,” Skerrit said. “The Chinese government is now going through the procurement process of tendering and selecting a contractor to build the hospital for us. So notwithstanding the storm (TS Erika) and all the other existing commitments, the Chinese are giving us further assistance.”
He noted that Erika has not affected China’s commitment to Dominica.
“So the storm has not affected the commitment of the Chinese government to us on a number of projects which we have spoken about before, which is of great importance of the people of Dominica is the new hospital,” he stated.
Since the new hospital will be built on the site of the present PMH, the Chinese government has also agreed to finance temporary accomodation for the hospital.
“One of the challenges we faced, from a financial standpoint, was the issue of temporary accommodation for the hospital and the Chinese government has offered to us to finance the temporary accommodation for the hospital so those sections that will be demolished,” he said. “They will provide temporary housing facility and will meet the requirements while we construct the new hospital.”
He added that the financial assistance is significant.
“This is a significant amount of money that the government of Dominica would have to fetch on its own and we now do not have to do it because of the offer of the Government of China, gain this is a major plus,” Skerrit remarked.
The new PMH has been described as “a noble gift” to Dominica by the Chinese government.
During the campaign for general election last year, it was said construction on the facility would begin in the first quarter of 2015.
In January 2015, Health Minister Kenneth Darroux said new information, new points of view and ideas about the hospital had surfaced and a site for the facility was yet to be determined.
He said a decision on the new site would be determined very soon and “within the next few weeks” the nation would be informed.
It was subsequently revealed that the facility will be constructed in Goodwill.
In May 2015, Skerrit said groundbreaking would be held in July 2015.
Back in 2010 then Health Minister, Julius Timothy, announced that the ground breaking ceremony for the hospital in the Roseau North constituency was “coming soon.”
That same year, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, said Warner should be considered as a possible location for the hospital.
Two years later, in 2012 Timothy said the existing Princess Margaret Hospital would soon be revamped and the country will have a “relatively new hospital .. early next year” (2013).
In 2013, Prime Minister Skerrit said the new hospital was among projects to be undertaken that year through gratuitous aid and concessionary financing from the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
At that time Skerrit mentioned that they were “unfolding the designs” of the hospital.
the chinese hospital
the chinese restaurant
the chinese store
the chinese bridge
the chinese road
the chinese motorbikes
the chinese laptop
the chinese stadium
the chinese school
the chinese solar light
the chinese grant
the chinese loan
the chinese mafia ( Mr Wu?)
Soon to come the chinese pepeh and codfish
Call election now
Dominicans never knew. Skerritt and his DLP Gov’t never told us. The move to switch foreign relations from Taiwan to China took all by surprise. All kinds of reasons/excuses were given by the Cabal. They beat their chests, boasted about how Skerritt negotiated for hours upon hours and was influential in getting the projects. The MOU signed on the people’s behalf, was never seen by the very people, on behalf of whom, authorities said the agreement was signed.
The recent revelation shocked many Dominicans. What happened in the dark came to light. My people, it was that same NG Lap Seng, now charged in the US for criminal acts that influenced, that took Dominica to establish links with China.
The patriots were correct all along, and fore warned about those secret relations/ linkls, especially with those with questionable records and involved in all kinds of illegal acts. many examples could be cited.
Dominica sold, big Time. NG Lap Seng in the picture for…
Dominica is now named DomiChina after the well known “Domnichen”
You can fool some people some of the time but you can’t do it all the time. How in God’s earth are you going to rebuild a hospital on the same site that the former exists? Aren’t you the same person who cited that other areas were being considered? Roosevelt Skerrit you will one day pay for your lies. Time…….Time…..Time. You should be ashamed to talk about a hospital when you two gems were born in the United States. Only in Dominica this eats me. Talk about patriotism? I don’t care who does it. As a Prime Minister your allegiance is to country so tell me sir where is your allegiance?And people will try to defend this. Just Time……P.S Don’t hold your breath about hospital. Skerrit your days as P.M are numbered. You can’t fool all of the people. TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
That’s the results you get when you think you simply CANNOT do for yourself. Blacks the world over, never want to be independent – always want to lean to the slave masters for sustenance. Blacks created everything before your eyes. We are the champions of civilization, and here we are, making mockery of ourselves again before the entire globe! Allu need to wake up and stop smoking the same ole’ stuff!!! Dominica will become like Haiti soon enough. I’ve said it before on this site – this is the second warning. Wake the heck up people, allu sleeping for too long, garcon!
The PM is always honest. He never lies. Oh what an anointed man
again? by the time they ready to build that hospital there will be no more land left in that area!!!
hmmm try make a better point and get some education,so that you could understand how the process of building is done
There is no point in having a new hospital here in Dominica until there is a proficient running staff and organization in the hospital! The PMH hospital is a disaster. The model of the new hospital does not look good at all there is no ventilation between the buildings! The Chinese will own Dominica soon! I do not understand what is going on in Dominica! Look at the abattoir and the coffee plant total disasters and non starters! Now a hospital! Just a very sad state of affairs, I weep for our beautiful Dominica!
To all those who are posting negative comments, I sincerely hope for your sake and that of your generation, none of you will have the need to use the hospital.
Why can’t we just wait and see before we continue to be so negative at everything in this country.
huh?? But we’ve been waiting for 5 years. At what point are we to question? It is this overly-accepting attitude that keeps a PM lying and feeling no need to deliver for such a long time.
allu breaking record now ……… ground breaking q1 2016 well well !!!
Too ground breaking for real. Them man breaking so much ground is like that giving the whole of Dominica cracks all over it and d place starting to look like one big strainer. Everything them man try just filtering through them holes and that strainer not holding anything. Them man ideas like a reverse diarrhea, they thinking with their backside and loose bowel coming out through their head. Garbage in, garbage out.
Lol Dominica don’t need a new hospital. They need to upgrade and fix the old ones first. When I visit Dominica my biggest fear is getting sick down there. Why don’t the PM concentrate on fixing the nation after TS Erika. First things first, Fix the roads and bridges so the people can move around with no fear.
In this modern time lets see how many washrooms they gona put in ward. Between every two bed should be a wash room. After surgery one has to walk all the way to the one wash room on a ward. Hope it is equip with hot and cold water. I hope is not another paper building like the stadium and president house with many pluming and electrical problems. Why aren’t these project being supervised by the so called engineers we have in the ministry? Before, a local contracted is giving a project they there everyday and asking the contractor to break down and rebuild at their own cost, but all u not monitoring the post office project doh! that contractor is all u met bodar. What happen to the NCCU building so long?
In 1995, when the UWP became the Government, it was called the Ground Breaking Government by the top brass of the DLP. When Timothy became a Minister in the Skeritt led Administration , there are many great ideas he could have brought over from the UWP, remember he was Deputy Political Leader, for what ever reason, it would appear, he chose to bring along with him, a political action called ground breaking. Now he is no longer a Minister in the Skeritt led Administration, it would appear the government has decided to keep his recommendation.
Like the tablet that episode will come to pass and we will all be rushing to our new Chinese built hospital. So now de movie come to a stalemate because all de big money institutions come to sit down with starring Skerro and giving him plenty big money for reconstruction. Garcon look money and de unreal starring and his crew run from reconstruction because they not in any lawful position in de constitution to give any OK on how to spend de big money. They say that starring Skerro should institute their Ti twavay tout-pa-tout in reconstruction, and starring Skerro say no fellars will take de money and cook pot river side instead of reconstruction like de good old sunrise days.
I think that in de future episodes of 2016 de movie going to turn real funny into another comedy of errors.
Why is the Dominican media not taking the Prime Minister and his Government to task? This Hospital project was Part of the 4 pillar projects, we were told by Skerritt in 2004, it was enshrine in the MOU. It was a priority for the Government in 2004.
11 years later, you guys talking about ground breaking ceremony again? papa met! how many ground breakings are we going to have? This Government choose to build a palace, over a health care facility for its people. This is a Government that puts square pegs in round holes.
Despite a devastating setback by Tropical Storm Erica, our precious and holy Supreme Leader remains committed to improving our Health Care System by building this beautiful State of the Art new Princess Margaret Hospital. I hope the critics don’t come to OUR hospital when it is built. We should paint it red and call it “The Labourite Hospital for the Faithful”. Why? Because the critics want things to happen immediately as if hospitals are built by magic. Common sense dictates that these things take time. After the ground-breaking it is still going to take anywhere from one to three years before the hospital is operational and available to the public. It seems like the faithful, loyal and dedicated Labourites are the only ones in Dominica with any common sense or logical thinking. We KNOW that the hospital will be built!!! Labourites, then, should be the ONLY ones enjoying the comfort and beauty of this brand spanking new hospital. Send the critics to Marigot!!!
According to Dictionary.com, an Ass is “a long-eared, slow, patient, sure-footed domesticated mammal, “Equus asinus”, related to the horse, used chiefly as a beast of burden”. An Arse (noun), in British English an alternative word for buttocks, anus or both Arse (verb), to mess around or play the fool as in “to arse about”. The product of an Ass is a Foal whereas the product of an ARSE is SH** or trouble.
I think love is unconditional whether right or wrong, rich or poor therefore Labour of Love suit those expressions. It seems however, that while Mr. PM is trying to unite Dominicans on the way forward, your blinded unconditional love unintentionally darts at destroying that unity with constant derogatory statements that imply that every Dominican should not be entitled to public facility! Dominica is at a sensitive stage right now which does not require a catalyst of division.
Before you respond, think and I will decide the worthiness of your response!
I feel like DA is a real stage for stand up (lie down, sit down) comedy..PM is the star of the show..Look a man talk bullocks!!..lol..If Dominicans don’t wake up by now is because they busy laughing..
When the 2014 election results were out, and Skerrit was made the winner, I gave a prophetic word that Skerrit would not last three years because God would hear the cry of the people and would deliver Dominica. December 8, 2016 will give him one year and things are very rocky in Dominica,
Anyways, I want to make one adjustment to my previous prophetic word and say the fllowing: Come carnival 2016, Mr. Skerrit will be out of office! HE will no longer be PM!
Based on what I know will surely come to pass soon, I shall not even waste time to comment on New PMH groundbreaking, because that too is a no go. Mark these words!
I only hope so.
Hahahahahah! Take a bag of coffee and wait, then you will make another prophesy. the things is the prophets like you never see whats coming straight at them
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If China is spending all its money on Dominica – fixing roads, and refixing after TS Erika, help to relocate the people who lost their homes in Petit Savanne, , according to Skerrit, build our hospital, rebuild our bridges – shouldn’t Skerrit just give the PRC to govern and run Dominica?
What is Skerrit doing for my country? Is he just the conductor or something? After all!
I agree. We should just change our flag. Nothing is free.
From the tale of Troy…Laocoon said…I fear the Greeks most when they make us gifts…talkin bout wooden horse
shouldn’t we be grateful to the PRC for their generosity ? It depends on the price we have to pay . I believe that our sovereignty has been bought and sold . Let’s not fool ourselves we are happy to receive free gifts but the worries will be more than we can bear. 37years of independence and out of that 37years labor party is going on it’s twentieth year as the govt. with nothing substantial to show base on our own abilities as an independent nation .Labor’s greatest achievement is a white elephant stadium and a palace to house the ayatollah of the infamous 47 days strike. Dominicans are we not weary of the tricksters and jesters in govt.? the same way in which they could rush to parliament for an emergency in light of our current situation there should be fresh general elections and let the nation decide who is best suited to manage the affairs of this country .No one is going to trust a govt who is lacking integrity with their tax dollars.
Part of the 4 pill;ar projects, we were told by Skerritt and his untrustworthy cabal that the MOU signed with China, included a hospital. That was how many years ago? The hospital wasn’t priority. The people never had access to that MOU. Concerns were raised, but in vain.
Those 4 projects, including that hospital, we were told, would be funded by the Chinese Gov’t. Remember?
Never forget. Didn’t Skerritt sign a $300 million loan in China, with a private financial Chinese firm? That huge sum of money to be borrowed from, God knows whom, would not be from the Chinese Gov’t., In fact, the Chinese Embassy here distanced itself from that deal, involving Skerritt and the private Chinese Financial Co.
Didn’t They tell Dominicans, part of that $300 million loan would go towards building that same hospital that the Chinese had to fund and build? Whose fools are Dominicans, nuh?
Wasn’t it NG Lap Seng influencial, in DA establishing foreign relations with China?
Boy how many times will you break ground? And those idiots are swallowing these bitter pills. The country’s leaders are just as dumb as the followers. You don’t know who leading who.
Ailas,poor Domnique.
Mr. Prime Minister, I put it to you that by the first quarter of 2016, Roosevelt Skerrit will not be the Prime Minister of Dominica. ……… I am not guessing, I am not asking I am telling you ahead of time so you could set your house in order. No, I did not say you will be dead because that will not the case. You will be somewhere in the USA. You might as well put in you pipe and smoke it!
Same mistakes over and over again. All experts agree that volcanic activity will intensify but yet still we go about making a MAJOR LIFE-TIME investment on pyroclastic deposits. Erika just taught as about not building in natural water courses. Seems like little is understood about events which gave rise to Glasgow, Fond Cole and Stockfarm, (with tarrish deposits), Goodwill and St. Aroment.
Next e.g.
The Govt. proposing to install WI-FI technology at the newly constructed N/town Primary School. We are in total support of having students gain access to IT technology. BUT medical science is advising that WiFi, emits radiation that causes a myriad of serious health effects. Hence doctors and scientists around the world have warned against unnecessary exposure of children to RF/microwave from wireless technology and recommend safer WIRED IT connection at schools instead. The voice of science and reasoning in this chapt. is..
http://www.wifiinschools.com/
http://www…
When the liar makes such statements, doesn’t anyone ask him for some sort of evidence to back it up? Was there a communique from china to corroborate what the pm uttered? We know Skerrits disease is pathological and he can’t help him self, he really thinks he is telling the truth And can’t understand why most people disbelieve him. But those in the audience, even his supporters do they not require something more than hot air? !
Seriously I’m fed up with your varee!!!!!!
Is that hospital a component of the 4 pillar projects promised by China since 2004 ?
Over 10 years after signing an MOU?
De $27million statehouse was a bigger priority? For u or China?
What is Dominica’ s priority?
De west coast road failed less than 5years after construction!
You want a lollipop???
Seems like when Skerrit promises coming to pass some people vex? So you all are really not patriotic but want power at any cost? By their fruits we shall know them, 20 more years
All you……all you…………..
………………….look dem fellas give another time period for the PMH ground to break.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDwleRigKMM – Somebody screaaammmmmmmmmmmmmm………
:lol:…….look jokes in Dominica boy.
But why they have to wait so long to break ground nuh. Skerrit & his band of incompetents could just go with a fork, knife, spoon & spade and break piece of the ground at PMH tonight or even tomorrow for the latest. After all, breaking the ground does not necessarily guarantee that any project is going to occur especially when this backward Labour party is involved.
An example of a ground-breaking in 2012(remember the year eh – we in 2015 now) for which we are yet to see any project happening – https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/economy-development/ground-breaking-for-northern-coast-guard-base-new-vessels-commissioned/
what about jobs for Dominicans? what about our professionals architects, engineers, etc. the Chinese seem to hire a few labourers and that’s that…! there are people who come from studying and can’t find employment, what about them?
within a country of expanse of land, why must the present hospital be the site for the new hospital? this makes no sense to me. why not allow for another area to develop or disturb the present hospital. i would really like to know what’s the reasoning of the present hospital as the site for the new one?
Now that is a beautiful picture, hope we will see it become a reality……fingers crossed
. We have seen enough ground breaking and nothing materialize.
another one
Stupppppppppes.Such bull crap for so long! This is a failed country!
Word of wisdom: a country that build structures instead of people is doom to fall. I am not saying this to wish bad on Dominica. 20 yrs now salary stagnant while taxes and cost of living going up. I do not have to look far in history to show societies that have failed when they measure development as the amount of structure they put up while people catching their assets. We cannot maintain the marigot , Portsmouth neither current hospital what make you all believe we can maintain this facility. People don’t have money neither health insurance to see a doc. $100 is a pain. Do you guys seriously think we can maintain the cost of electricity, equipment (repairs and maintainance), and all that. Let’s be serious. Are we going to let China pay for all that also? Look at the current facility and tell me if equipments are operational and has good maintainance. NO!! We are leaving in a wonderland. Unless our population don’t increase, salary don’t increase, availability of jobs in
….the private sector don’t increase, agri production, processing, and export don’t increase, unemployment and crime don’t increase we will get nowhere.
Here is a situation where we get a gift, but the terms are China will send out bids and select who it wants to build. Where do you think the money is going back. The PM has the philosophy that we get a hospital so shut up. Who cares who build it, who cares about trickle down economics, who cares about local engineering talent. We must be a department of China. Yes we need better health care but for those of us who think this is going to change anything is in for a rude awakening. Let me also add, having people put out waste for collection and disposal is development, yet we created a stinky rodent infested unhealthy town. Our institutions and systems that need to run this place either a waste of time or non existent. All this crap about state of the art hospital will do nothing if people life ain’t changing.
“Unemployment and crime decrease”
According to Government’s most recent economic assessments, Dominica is in good financial standing, compared to our Caribbean neighbors. We may not be able to eat concrete, but we can admire its beauty and strength.
So now its coming to pass you don’t want it?
Could not have said it any better. We are really living in a FOOLS PARADISE! Sadly, we the people keep allowing the few greedy trough feeders to fool us especially the less fortunate who are all being bought with gifts from the Supremo. Mark my word, ham and turkey will flow like tower in Dca for Christmas and there will not even be fig and karkardore in pepper water come January. God help us all.
Assertive, Never Aggressive!
All you will never be satisfied no matter what. They giving you a freaking hospital you complaining. Salary will increase when people like you stop complaining and show some sign of productivity in the work place instead of sitting behind a desk doing absolutely nothing for the day and going home before 4 pm. And, I forgot to add……go to work on time. Be appreciative , you ungrateful wetch
I will be satisfied when I see pay going up to match inflation and cost of living, I will be satisfied when we doing so well we can build our own hospital, take care of the infrastructure we already have, I will be satisfied when the healthcare is first class, I will be satisfied when Dominicans can design, and build on their own. I have pride, I love my country, I am not a begger, and I want no one to feel sorry for me because I am working hard for what I want. You can go ahead and be great full all you want that will get you and your generation nowhere. Why don’t you roll over and let China stick wood up……………………… While you at it.
Make haste, I want the value of my property in Goodwill to go up. I have plans……investments, investments, investments.
As a Crab and Manicou hunter, I will stay in my lane. I will keep hunting and selling my crab back so when I get sick, I can fly to Martinique or Guadeloupe on a helicopter ride like those big shots in Government and elsewhere. I am tired of counting the number of times that there will be a ground breaking event for this hospital. Let me go back to the hills and hunt for my living.
Asertive, Never Aggressive!
My brother, I like your sense of humour.
The question i would like them to answer is would the PM and his government use the hospital if any of them were to need it, or would they all run overseas for treatment?
Answer: Run overseas.
They will answer when you decide to pay the bill but as far as I see it…..This Is None Of Your Business
My tax dollars pay their salary and medical bills so its very well my business
I lost count of the number of times that I have heard this. stupes.
LOL DNO gave the timeline at the end of the article…..going back years. I really hope and pray it comes to fruition because this is a much needed facility.
So will the next Skerrit baby be born there?
Dar pwaywuuu! The Supreme leader will never allow his children with Melissa to be born in DUMinica (fools paradise) or even be educated here.
Assertive, Never Aggressive!
Which one? Not if it is given birth by his wife!
If this article is not bating a response, then I don’t know what it’s for! This is not a well written article. This is an attempt to add a bit of information then resort to the typical condescending, bashing rhetoric that DNO has supported over the years.
We must all be aware that this hospital is all part of the agreement that Skerrit has with China. It has to meet the requirements of the Chinese people that are going to be resident here. The apartments at Elmshall are part of the same scheme, as will be the new airport. If the U.S.A. can have a base in Cuba why not China in Dominica?
lol all beds might be not more than 5 feet 5 inch long… I 6 feet 2 inches. I might have to go martinique
Assertive, Never Aggressive while being amused profusely!
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! That’s HOW MANY TIMES NOW?????????????
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.
I must laff!!!!!
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