Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that groundbreaking for the new much talked about, Chinese-funded Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) will take place in July.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, he said nothing can be done to fix the old PMH.
“It is a facility that has outlived its purpose and so forth, it is run down,” he stated. “It is not a place where we should in the second decade of the 21 century be providing the highest level of care in so far as health services is concerned.”
He noted that the Chinese has presented the government with an “excellent concept” for the new facility and considerations were taken of concerns raised.
“The chinese government has indicated to us that they are prepared to break ground for the hospital in July of this year,” Skerrit announced. “And the clear mandate to the Minister of Health is that the government must to everything possible on its side. The Chinese are ready, the Chinese people are ready, we must do everything on our side to ensure that we do all that we have to do to break ground in July.”
He noted that the government is passionate about the hospital since it will transform the delivery of health care services in Dominica and reduce the mount of Dominicans traveling overseas for medical attention.
He stated that the government is increasing efforts in training local Dominicans so that there will be expertise in specific areas.
“So that we have a core of Dominicans who will responsible for providing those services to our Dominican citizens,” the Prime Minister said.
“SO we are hoping to break ground because the issues that are outstanding are not insurmountable, they are issues that can be addressed in a matter of short period of time,” he said.
Skerrit stated the new PMH is “a noble gift” to Dominica by the Chinese government.
During the campaign for general election last year, it was said construction on the new hospital 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.
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.
I am currently abroad studying nursing so I guess that will be plus for me.
so no FIRM in DOMINICA could not have done a hospital design?? that what you trying to tell me???!!
Is there a nephrologist in Dominica? Will there be training if there isn’t one admin? can u answer these questions?
I am currently studying nursing abroad. I hope when I come home I will get a job easily.
Regretfully some of you-sound just as delusional as this Mad Hatter!
-must be kidding yourself if you really believe this garbage
REALITY CHECK —you right I think when Princess Margaret agreed to
have this Hospital named after her, it was contingent on maintaining the
building in tip- top shape and continue superb care of the highest calibre.
So Her Royal Highness request no Demand that we cease using her name.
AND No! IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY NAMING ANYTHING THIS REGIME ERECTS
AFTER OUR BELOVED DAME. THIS TILTLE COMMANDS RESPECT!!
The only true statement in this Article, is the fact that, it’s an Impression by a Chinese Artist.
The Beijing Smog is evident and the landmark is conducive to that of the Chinese Topography.
This Regime got to stop spreading this Propaganda and move out of the way of True progress.
REPEATING A LIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE!!!!!!!!
Dominican we are moving forward to a new demension of life. Thanks to the hard work of this Priminster Skerrit and all government officals. Dominicans should be thankful for a leader who has a vision for a better Dominica, when some say no he said “yes we can.” The new generation one day will receive the care which the government must provides for it’s people in their own country. A care that we have a fiduciary duty to provide to all dominicans regardless of their ability. This was a long time coming, and when its all acomplished there should be no question ask the hospital should be named after the Priminster while he is alive and well. The next most important thing to come is the international airport when thest two project is completed Dominica will be Known as one of the best equilibrium caribbean Country in the World.
my friend Leroy can i ask where in the world do you live if your on the world? and is it ok for me to now say your mad? that the things your now giving the pm high thanks for a the same things he has been telling us DOM-IN-CANS for years that we don’t need or if at all we thinking of them we don’t have and will not have the money to get them, bro it look like you 200% MAD or your must be one of the DOM-IN-CANS that cant think for them self and put words together or your getting things that your not working had for bro am sorry that I cant feel sorry for you and lots of your DOM-IN-CANS hope one day you wake up from this sleep your in that’s what i can tell you i also do hope your age is about two years old so you can wait on the only young man that’s not going to get old in Dominica that’s the PM to give you are hospital and airport that you have been dreaming of all this years lol lol
Something does not add up. Yesterday I hear the P.M. say that the new hospital is a gift from the Republic of China. In Nov. 2013 he signed a U.S.$.300 million agreement with a Chinese company in Shanhai for various projects, including “building a hospital newly” with the Chinese govt. providing a preferential loan for the projects. So what is it. A free gift or a project built with a preferrential loan?
Ground breaking is code for Jumbi in bag.
i very happy to see improvement in the health services in Dominica which is a lovely beautiful country. I m a citizen of Dominica now and I m a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon working out side the country I m ready to come over and help the people there and to provide them with the best health care in my field of specialty I hope and wish one day my dream become true God bless Dominica.
dr. Jawad Twaij Consultant Orthopedic Surgery
where are you originally from?Whyare u using ur expertise in another country.Did u buy ur citizenship?
Originally Iraqi, I m working in a Hospital with good facilities to perform my special surgical procedures I have little idea about the level of heath care service for my specialty in Dominica , I saw Dominica for short time I found the people very nice and friendly but they deserve to have good caliber doctors to provide them with the best care. and I m ready and willing to do that . I become a citizen of Dominica through the Economic program , I must thank the people of Dominica and the Government for accepting me as a citizen in this beautiful country, I will put my long time experience in my specialty as Consultant Orthopedic Surgery for the help of the people of Dominica.
The New PMH… dont like that name.. why not start by calling it the “Mione Elizabeth George Israel” Hospital… The Dominican Icon of Longevity!!!
All ministers should be trained in how to run a country that’s part of the problems nothing is done the right way we have to many drunkards in the place.
Are we going to make enough money to maintain the hospital. Is any one helping the prime minister to do that, or all we do is make noise without a plan, we need a plan bring foreigners to the hospital to help pay for some of the cost. All we can do is block the road and make noise.
Is the new hospital going to have a helicopter landing pad? A helicopter landing area is a necessity to any good hospital so the helicopter can get patients to emergency care, Triage more quickly or fly them to the French islands if need be. An effort needs to be made to acquire a helicopter from another country or maybe they can donate one if the government does not have the funds. If an emergency arises and the patient cannot be taken care of in Dominica the patient could be flown to Melville Hall and put on a plane and flown to a specialist as well.
Anybody who believe what they see that picture has to be out of their mind!
In the first place I would like to know what do the gray square blocks we see on the four sides of the proposed hospital represents. Are residential homes? Or everything we see represents the entire hospital facilities?
Where is the parking lot, nowhere to be seen: this is nothing more than wishful thinking!
” A promise is a fools’s pleasure.”
Promises. promises, promises and more promises. We all are waiting to see. Stop taking people for granted. You should be honest when addressing the people. We are not coonumoonooes.
It will be a start.
Then the real construction work will commence.
It will be worth the wait until it is completed.
More tall tales. Since 2004, a new hospital has been promised. It seems it cannot get out of gestation.
While a state of the art hospital will definitely be a plus for Dominica, without qualified people working in it, it will just be a structure standing for people to see. I know the government has been passionate about training doctors and nurses, increasing the number of specialists on island, this is indeed a wonderful move and I applaud them. However, I know first hand that there are some creatures within the Ministry of Health who solely seek to frustrate young doctors, qualified specialists and nurses. The end result simply is these people become fed up and leave Dominica for better and much more welcoming job offers. There are many Dominican doctors out in the world, who refuse to come home because of pressure put on them by ministry officials and older doctors. The only way a new hospital can provide proper services to Dominicans is for the powers at be to make the working environment welcoming enough. We need to stop with the jealousy, think of country and people first!
Ministry officials and the older doctors need to remember that they will not always be here and they system needs to go on. And to those doctors who feel it is necessary to run young doctors away due to fear of competition, please remember that if you are good at what you do and are confident in your abilities there will always be a slice of pie for you to eat. Stop hurting the Dominican public because of mere jealousy.
I really hope that one day Dominica can be a leader in health care services in the Caribbean. Not only providing services to Dominicans, but to the neighboring islands. I hope that we can build a system which will be a major contributor to national income. But for this to happen we need a new facility and personnel who are willing to work with each other to constantly improve the health sector.
P.S please pay qualified people what they are due. For all the stressful years of school and work, people need what they are due.
oh lawd If I knew u would send u a bouquet u head it right on the head I am in this system and just wat to do
I like PM Skerrit but I must admit that he always has me wondering if it is true or just politics. I find he is lacking transparency and credibility. He needs to be more transparent, more consistent, and more truthful. At one time he has us to believe the hospital will be built by the Chinese government, while other times is a Chinese investment group that he signed MOU with for airport, hospital and hotel. At one time the hospital will be built at one location then next time is the existing sight, Yet he has not told us how he will provide care for those at the hospital. At one time the plan is drawn and approved and next time they are not satisfied with plans. Let us not even talk about commencement date since it seems to change every month. If ONLY the PM were transparent, credible, honest, consistent and truthful, my vote would be his till death, because he always seems to tell us what he thinks we need to hear. Play on the front foot PM and you will be alright. Just be honest
What is groundbreaking? Does ground breaking mean a hospital is built? Didn’t we witness groundbreaking recently around the cabrits area for some drug security base, sponsored by the US? Has I been built? I will believe when I see.
there was also quite a bit of groundbreaking during uwp term in office
Breaking ground is symbolic, breaking wind is real!
while we should be thankful for a new hospital,we must remember the pioneers and trail blazers who gave to us the current PMH and the RFA hospital in Portsmouth and the marigot hospital i have been told that where the youth center is presented located in grand bay that there use to be a small hospital.
Yes there was, and our primary health care was second to none!
So how many Dominicans are expected to be employed during the construction? This is something I would like to hear the authorities talk about…
Two.
Do you want employment or a hospital . What you rather take a loan to build your house so your partners can get work or I build it with my boys and give it to you? We doe ask for work we ask for hospital don’t be greedy can’t have it all
The grand breaking for the International Airport and Roseau development shouldn’the be for apart,During 2014 campaign you address to the Dominican people the contract already signed with a Chinese company so it shouldn’t be for apart, Anyway we will see if it gonna happen in July, we fed up hearing new hospital will built for decades now, It’s time for development s.
WAIT FOR IT….WAIT FOR IT….WAIT FOR IT
LMAO…so NO ONE in the press conference today could ask him, how is this promise different from those we have been hearing since 2010????
Poor Dominicans we are so anxious/exicted for a new facility we WANT to believe the lies!
What is a “state of the art hospital”?
Wikipedia states “The term state of the art refers to the highest level of general development,as of a device, technique or scientific field achieved at a particular time.”
The term state of the art is also commonly used in that form of ‘witchcraft’called advertising.
Wake up from your slumber people.
Please PM clarify those things for us, the people of Dominica.
Since when the people were told about that new hospital? Was it part of the 4 pillar projects to be built by the Chinese?
The road from Portsmouth-Roseau rehab; Grammar School; Stadium and hospital were the projects the Chinese would give to Dominica. The MOU, “Agreement” is inaccessible to the Public. All the time, the PMH wasn’t in a dilapidated condition to be given priority?
But strangely, recently, Dominicans found out that Skerritt signed, in China, a $300 million loan with a private Chinese business firm for projects, part of which was the new hospital. Remember the Chinese Gov’t had publicly washed their hands re. that deal? Isn’t that really strange? PM told Dominicans Chinese Gov’t funding and building new hospital, re. MOU, but signs for loan, part for hospital project?
In 2015, no Dominican architect is capable, skillful, or knowledgeable enough to design a hospital…
No Dominican architect is skillful, or knowledgeable enough to design a hospital. No Dominican contractor is capable of handling such a massive project either. It would suffer from cost over-runs and it would be completed in 100 years, after contractor after contractor eat all government money and deliver nothing, but a foundation and a few pillars, maybe.
people you so that had doubt about the stadium
2005 promise stadium, completed 2008. In 2009 promise west coast road, completed 2012. 2014 promise hospital ground breaking 2015. However 1995 promise stadium, ground breaking in 1999 . Well done DLP they just jealous
you dont have to believe,you can pay your money to get medical services in the us. you a just a hater, you really is a cc
Skerro, our sweet loving PM, ou se on nomme dobout
This is the “I told you so” moment for all the critics and nay-sayers who doubted His Holiness, Dr. Roosevelt M. Skerrit. Yes, there may be some delays in the process but, whenever the Blessed Prime Minister promises something you better believe it will be fulfilled! The Opposition and their mindless minions tried their best to convince Dominicans that the Supreme Leader is not a man of his words. Well…now with a new shiny state-of-the-art Hospital with experts in all medical practices and specialties providing professional medical care to Dominicans, we can all tell them in Dominican lingo to “HUSH THEIR MOUTHS”!!!!
hahahaha it must be open already?? LOL…The opposition didn’t have to say anything on the subject, the gov’t has said it all:
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.”
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…Skerrit mentioned that they were “unfolding the designs” of the hospital.
In 2014, they say first quarter 2015. In second quarter 2015 they say July 2015
This is old news.
What resolve do you have for current state
of the hospital?
No linen, no medication.
While communal and contagious
diseases are on the rise, patients who
are financial able are left with two choices
for am/PM care, that is sharing four(4)
basins with a whole ward.
Do we have to wait for a new hospital
to practice universal precaution?
It is a shame that one has to be ailing and have to
kill bed bugs all night-“The country nice boy”.
A piece of hardboiled egg and one sardine
is the best breakfast at the hospital.
Without a friend or relative to bring one a meal
they will die. Nurses have to get sugar or
juice from patients to administer to diabetic
patients before insulin.
You claim citizens over 60 do not have to pay
yet those who do not have money for medicine
are denied treatment.
Currently the hospital is the “black clinic”
one goes in the head(life position) and discharged in
a coffin.
Amputation is a joke, more money for…
Well my dear you hate the red clinic so much , here you are talking about a welfare state. You should migrate elsewhere where every thing is free
I hope Mr. Lugay and his committee will kiss all the plans for the upgrade of Lindo Park goodbye. I reported earlier that the top part of the Lindo Park will be used for storage of equipment and materials while the hospital is being built. I am predicting, Skeritt will ask the people of the Goodwill Constituency and Dominicans by extension, which is more important, a brand new hospital or an upgraded playing field.
so why cant they take more land to the back of the hospital,, they going and deprive people from sports and exercising like they did roseau
You Laborites are like political crack heads. You put anything into your system just for temporary high. ” the upper section of Lindo Park for storage of material” ? This is just fabrication for convenience. If Goodwill people sit by and allow the only play ground to be used for material storage they would be darn fools and the government would be perfect idiots.
10 years of talking about a hospital and suddenly Lindo Park becomes the bane of the project construction?
It will definitely be an amazing achievement for the health community in Dominica having a state of the art Hospital. Health care is and should be the number one priority for our citizens. My only concern about a project like that and other public facilities that may be erected in the future is naming them after our own national heroes. It is time for us to get away from the cloud of colonization and establish our own identity. This hospital should not be called Princess Margaret Hospital. I suggest that it be named after Dame Eugenia Charles. I hope the Government consider moving in that direction as it relates to future developments in our infrastructures.
So, why is the Government so anxious to count their chickens before they are hatched?
Save the month and mark your calendars with the date to be given in a subsequent announcement, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new PMH. Please note that the groundbreaking may or may not mark the construction of the project; the ceremony itself is just too long overdue. We are excited that the project means lots of jobs for our Chinese partners and the new hospital will open in 2019. ( We hope)
Just like with the groundbreaking for the coast guard base on the northern coast, right? LOTS of groundbreaking ceremonies, no actual work..
Will believe it when i see it
Yes Doubting Thomas. This is the same attitude you will have throughout your life; not a good one. Who wants to know a consistent doubter?