Health Minister Dr. Kenneth Darroux has announced that the much talked about new hospital project is “on stream” and has “essentially started.”
“The new National Hospital Project, which is the official term that we use to coin this project, is on stream and contrary to naysayers the project has essentially started,” he stated.
The contract for new National Hospital was signed between the Hunan Construction Engineering Group Corporation of China and the Ministry of Health and Environment on December 11, 2015.
Darroux described the project as a “massive undertaking” and fine tuning had to be done which led to a lot of dialogue between the government and its Chinese counterparts.
“And of course, as I said, it’s even more so the fact that the hospital is going to be constructed on the site where we expect services to continue,” he stated.
Dr. Darroux thanked the Chinese for their patience and understanding with the government of Dominica.
“Of course they realizing that PMH is our sole secondary healthcare provider institution, so we have to ensure all the I’s are dotted and all the T’s are crossed before we proceed to signing off on any phasing option,” he stated. “I would like to report that these dialogues are over.”
Dr. Darroux also stated that temporary residential buildings located next to the Dominica Grammar School are being constructed to house Chinese contractors /workers employed on the project.
“Work has started on the project and you would notice the clearing of land next to the Dominica Grammar School…,” he noted. “These are lands that I know would have air marked for sporting facilities, but we have agreed, giving the importance of this national project, that we would have agreed to allow our Chinese counterparts to construct temporary residential buildings during the life of the new national hospital project.”
He indicated that the project is not expected to last more than three years.
Dr. Darroux noted that discussions will be held with cabinet to get an official ground breaking date.
The construction of the new hospital has been on the lips of officials for years now.
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.
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.
In November 2015, Skerrit said everything is now settled between Dominica and China and the groundbreaking will now be held in the first quarter of 2016.
In December 2015 it was revealed that two technical teams from the People’s Republic of China are presently in Dominica and one of them will be reviewing plans for the hospital.
where darroux get his doctorate?? under his foot?? you can fool some people sometimes but you can’t fool all the people all of the time!!
Darroux is a Medical Doctor as far as I know..not sure that he’s a PHD..
“PMH is our sole secondary healthcare provider institution…” HUH!!!!?
sole = only
secondary = none-primary
Do we have another hospital in D/CA?
I like that “essentially started”. Thank you for that Mr. Minister, now we will just have to wait for the actual start…..
man oh man ……now we wait a bit longer…..let us know when it actually starts, we’re still young………we’re waiting….2010 and counting…..don’t think we will turn grey, do you?
smh lol.. agree though alas. great word give him his props ‘essentially started’ smbt
Aye i am not even reading the article, the headline alone. Essentially Started?
What the minister would prefer hear me say, 1) Is either i vote labor or 2) i essentially vote labor.
Will and come again. Dominican’s open up you all eyes. Know you all’s worth.
How is it “essentially started” and at the same time” is going to be constructed”?
And where will the present patients and operations be relocated to? It will only be a New Hosiptal if the old one is demolished. Or are you guys fully aware that you are only going refurbish the old hospital and mislead the People once more, that this is a New hospital. I am Thomas, I will only believe when I see it completed and in full use.
Dominicans must these guys from taking them for fools!
Essentially started… Like the West Bridge.
All of all you are a bunch of jokers.
the chinese govt. is not building any hospital in da. the house where saverin lives is an example. ask the chinese embassy
Anyway someone has to realize that building a hospital on a small site of an existing hospital will have high security and health risks this is not adding a porch to the back of your house. Who is thinking of the hundreds of patients who will be affected during construction and the staff as well. What plan will be implemented for the safety of patients in the event of an emergency or some virus breakout. Using the same location to build a hospital is one of the worse decisions taken ever…zero concern for the citizens.
When we see the foundation; not simply ground breaking ceremony, because we saw too many of that in the past; however, when we see the foundation, and structures affixed, and completed then and only then I will be a believer!
Secondly one have to wonder if the engineering structures will be similar, or the same as what the Chines built for the people of Afghanistan, where the building stands falling apart empty never put into use.
We wonder if they the Chines are going to installs mini Air Conditioners venting into the building rather than outside of the building, as they have done in Afghanistan, where the entire building was condemned, rendered useless before it was ever occupied by humans, the hospital in Afghanistan is substandard in architecture, and workmanship!
“Essentially started”?? What the heck does that even mean. Those clowns think that they are speaking to idiots so they can mamaguy Dominicans with vague words and phrases. I tell ya, the patients are running that mad house called DA.
I am glad you caught it also, I was going to comment on that bit of garbage, but decided to simply ignore it. I was told by someone that words even if they are defined in a dictionary, in Dominica the same words do not mean the same.
Case and point “Stupps” I do not do know what it means in Dominica, in patios nor English, but the closest one will get to such whatever it is in a dictionary is stupid!
Now if I had my way I’d tell that silly guy who calls himself doctor that the word “essentially” simply means inherent, or we can say something of the utmost importance, or even basic.
If I add indispensable, or idiopathic to the definition you will see that guy is only playing with the English, without knowing what the he is talking about. We could use this term: ‘this is essentially required in order to accomplish the other.’
In any event, those are the kinds of people who are running Dominica!
Well really they are speaking to idiots.
Mr Darroux,please learn to be diplomatic or eat some humble pie.Your predecessor,Mr Timothy told the country back in 2010,six years ago that the new hospital was coming,and instead of being humble and thank the Dominican people for their patience,you are talking about nay sayers.You sound ridiculous talking such low class garbage.Come on man get with the programme and act with intelligence and humility.After all six years and we are yet to see ground breaking take place
The nurses getting customer service training as well?
Using Dr. Darroux’s reasoning I guess I’m essentially pregnant since I’ve started having unprotected sex to get pregnant. Smh.
how is signing a contract the start of building a hospital? and how can u do construction in, around ,outside the exsisting hospital where sick people are? to me this is pure nonesense. Where do we think in Dominica. In our “derear”? Come on!
in what world do you leave? the questions you are ask can be answered by yourself…….. do your research before posting a comment………………
Live Mia, please live! If you leave the world you are dead already an do not need to worry about a hospital.
When I die I leave this world since there is only one we know of.
??
That’s funny, maybe they only putting up a fence.
Thanks for the laugh
so while people healing from surgery etc they have to inhale cement and dust, noise from construction works and workers? In the same little piece of land they want to have sick people they want to construct? the wards are not air conditioned, everything will be covered in dust! This is MADNESS!! Even worse coming from the Minister of Healther who himself is a Doctor?? What is wrong with you people? You cannot have a hospital in a construction site!
Congratulation to the Government of Dominica and its Citizens, for the start of the well needed hospital.
Their is no doubt in my mind one day Dominican will give credit to Whom Credit is due. May God Bless Dominica and all those who wish Dominica well.
There is, not “their is” and the rule of capitalization still exists….no CAPS in mid sentence except for proper nouns…ask the Dis-Honorable Non- Ph.D. carrying doctor, he will tell you….heard his major or was it minor was English.
Well you just confirmed that he is speaking to idiots.
Credit for what? The role of any government is to provide jobs or an enabling environment for job creation, roads, health and other amenities and housing. That is why we have become so backward and accommodating of corruption because we think that we own politicians for doing what they were voted into office to do.
allu foolish dominicans forget the hospital was part of a four pillar project. now 12 years later you still looking…
a promise is a comfort to a fool
You want development or not…so negative so stupid….of course placement is part of planning…..
The Chinese already have an accommodation complex on the west Coast Road why not utilise that and transport the workers in????
Dr. Darroux, with respect, you are talking nonsense. Either construction of the hospital has started or it has not…or is it perhaps a virtual hospital we are talking about? It is like being pregnant, either you are or you are not!Have you ever heard of a virtual pregnancy dear Doctor? We know you have to do your boss’ bidding but please, do you have to make yourself look & sound ridiculous in the process?
You allocate area for the Chinese to house themselves and you want to ask me to take that to mean that the project has essentially started.
BROTHER YOU HAVE NOTHING GOING ON IN THAT SITE AT THE HOSPITAL.
you seriously stretching now for some credibility!!!!
Your qualification as a medical professional taking serious blows for your political persuasions.
Please Pm you need air ambulance attached to the new hospital. Remember state of the act involves a helicopter Pad on the new hospital …I mean air ambulance . Remember the disaster in South of Dominica . We had to get helicopters to air lift the injured . start thinking the crew and get on with this addition
The Pm is not ur daddy…this is where insurance pays there part….all u to lazy in Dominica….work and help urselves.
You are blind by politics. What is wrong with that statement?
Excellent idea.
From the rendition above, are they going to back fill Gutta Village
Instead of constructing temporary homes, why aren’t the Chinese renting homes from locals?
SN above , What is the matter with you Dominicans moaning every thing is it that you guys have for brains or whatever my suggestion to all haters go to the bathroom ? and play with your selfs instead.
OK, Excellent point SN. @sixty nine am yet to understand you point SMH
Good point, there are so many unoccupied hotel rooms and apartments.
In addition, the houses could be constructed on a PERMANENT site and thereafter the project ends (3 years) the houses can be auctioned or allotted for needy people affected by TSE
Darroux, enlighten me what does the term ‘essentially started’ mean? At the begin of 2016 your boss told us that groundbreaking would take place in March 2016. I have not noticed any activity but I guess that is what you refer to as being on stream. If all you guys would be as good in actually doing something as opposed to talking, Dominica would be the most developed country in the region! Unfortunately, quite the opposite is true. So what does that say about the government??
Aagabriel , that word could mean any thing in English trouble is black people like using to many big words used simply language so we all can understand what is said.
What does “essentially started” mean? It has either started or it has not. There is no grey area here.
And you wonder why people like Donald Trump do so well. Despite the garbage they speak, at least they speak in clear language that people understand. That kind of double-speak from our politicians gets on my nerves.
Enough said. Time for action. No more new date. Get the project going. We need to see concrete being poured asap in order to allay the fears of the nay sayers. 12 years now since the announcement was made for a new hospital from our Chinese friends. Too much talking. Hope Tony et al will not find that fault with the contract
I suggest that you all invest in a helipad for this phantom hospital for two reasons. (1) In the unlikely event that it ever gets completed people who need to fly overseas will be able to do so directly from this ghost hospital instead of traveling to the airport. (A stitch in time saves nine, remember every second counts in emergencies). (2) Given the fact that you waste of time air-conditioned Labor baboons have shown no interest in fixing the bad condition of the roads, maybe you all can use the money you have unfairly collected from the road tax scheme to purchase a few helicopters to airlift people from the emergency sites to the hospital since the potholes could cause further injuries depending on the situation
Floridian Dia as poor, have you ever try going for a swim in a crocodile ? river? If not it would be a good idea.
Roads to airport? That reveals you haven’t been to D’a for quite a while. Notwithstanding all the corners the road is in good shape, recently resurfaced, they only need upkeep to cut back shrubs that grow fast on the sides. And that’s coming from a Skeritt critique.