Dominica’s Health Minister Dr. Kenneth Darroux has revealed that construction on the new National Hospital is at a “standstill” after Hurricane Maria but will soon resume after a review and consultation with the Chinese government which is funding the project.
Since the passage of Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017, that project, which was supposed to have moved to its second phase, has stopped.
Addressing the handing over ceremony of a $400,000.00 Sagicor Insurance Mobile Medical Unit to the government and people of Dominica on February 16, 2018, Darroux gave reasons for the standstill.
“It is at a standstill not because of the lack of funds or any other reasons, it’s because we have been invited and have kindly accepted by our Chinese counterparts to sit back and review the scope of work of the project, not that it was not being built to withstand hurricanes, but Hurricane Maria has opened our eyes,” Dr. Darroux stated.
He also gave an updated on what he described as the “controversial Marigot Hospital,” saying “funds have already been put into the building of that hospital.”
“Funds are already committed to the building of the hospital very controversial hospital,” he said. “We have received words from our Mexican counterparts that the funds have been approved so we are waiting on the final design to go forward and we are also about to invite tenders for the demolition of the old Marigot hospital so we can start building.”
He also spoke about “Smart Hospitals,” funded PAHO/DECAD project for La Plaine, Grand Bay and Roseau which means “making them self-sufficient after a natural disaster.”
A human resource audit he says has already been taken by the Ministry of Health to complement the “infrastructure”.
Dominica, Darroux said, is now seeing the advent of postgraduate doctors back on the island to assist in the new infrastructure that is being provided.
“We have to be prepared every year for Hurricane Maria-type hurricanes. We can’t just sit back it is now real,” he remarked.
I am cardiac technoloigst with 17 years of exp in Echcoardiography want to apply for a job at there
please guide me in this regard
Breaking news! beautiful building and resilient too ____it servived Maria and and Irma intact and on paper; now it is at a standstill. But a house is not a home when there’s no one there.
Enough attention is not paid to health care on Dominica. I believe it’s a states responsibility to provide adequate health care to its citizens. A simple service as an MRI has to be done overseas. How many people have to stay and suffer at their homes because they are unable to pay for costly surgeries overseas (which is usually the cost of a brand new house)?
At least Dr. Darroux can ensure they receive a death certificate citing natural death, if that is a consolation.
Had to go to Barbados to do mine. Medical Services is a huge industry that we take for granted. There is millions to be made here in conjunction with tourism for the rehabilitation aspect and we continue to sleep. If i had the money i would establish a small private hospital with necessary testing facility and machines in conjunction with hotel rooms to ensure your full recovery in a safe serene quiet PRIVATE setting. Not like how it is at PMH
A standstill again? boy that hospital will end up just like that Moroccan Hotel.
Let us talk commonsense. First of all the location of the airport is bad. MARIA with all her water showed why. Please for God sake stop putting money in that abyss. Do Dominicans a favor and build the airport someware else and build a hospital to accommodate that airport at the same time probiding services I mean high glass service to the surrounding villages. Therefore killing two birds with one stone.
So much politics. The irony is, with all the political/economic knowledge Dominicans blabber about, look how many fled the country after hurricane Maria. You’d think that was the time to show what they have. Yeah, right.
Sir we are eagerly awaiting the building of the Marigot hospital. I hope that the funds will not be diverted elsewhere.
I lived through Hurricane David in 1979. Hurricane Maria struck Dominica 38 years later and you are now talking about the Chinese having to re-evaluation the project because of Hurricane Maria?
Did these guys now learn we are in the middle of the hurricane belt? Unbelievable!!
You do know that this is only an excuse. The real reason may be something else. I am sure that the Chinese are aware this is a hurricane area.
Just wait for it. Those Chinese going to come out in their own little technical way and make us know this government is lying.
Remember I told you all that eh.
Shut ur tail where is ur money to build a better hospital that’s if u have a home to rest ur head take a hike.
“It is at a standstill not because of the lack of funds or ANY OTHER reasons…”
SO why then is it at a standstill? If there is no reason, and a hospital is so urgent, why stop the project?! is it to allow everyone to speculate then call them “haters” and “bad talkers?”
“it’s because we have been invited and have kindly accepted by our Chinese counterparts to sit back and review the scope of work of the project, not that it was not being built to withstand hurricanes, but Hurricane Maria has opened our eyes,”
WHAT A CONTRADICTION! SO, the hospital WAS being built to hurricane-standards, and yet you are stopping to review the scope of work? For what reason then? If Maria opened your eyes, but not to building to hurricane-standards, then WHAT exactly are you reviewing?!
When will the review conclude? When will the project recommence? Hurricane seasons begins again in a few months, hasn’t Maria taught us the urgency of having a well-equipped hospital?!
“Hurricane Maria has opened our eyes,” Dr. Darroux stated.
My question is, when a blind man opens his eyes, is he no longer blind? I’m still waiting for Maria to open our collective minds.
Here we go again. Excuses excuses excuses. The talk of climate resilience have been around for a few years now so that should have been in plan. These guys full of crap. Same ole ….. This is the worst government Dominica has had in it 40 hears independence. Men that act like spoil brats who parents leave them a prized business. What they did? Run it to the ground. The excuses are recession, Erika, Maria, and lennox linton.
I agree with you. That entire bunch of Ministers allows Skerrit to make fools of them and none has the guts to stand up against him. A prime example what greed can do to human beings.
Please, laborites help me to understand y after 18 years in office I dont hear the govt say the ton of CBI money, everything that is being built is funded by some external govt. Friendship bridge, the stadium, the E.O. Leblanc highway, the airport to Roseau road, the new hospital, DSC….chinese…the waste of money abattoir, the coffee plant, settlement housings, etc Venezuelan…the mosquito hotel…Moroccan and now ty he Marigot hospital..Mexican…then at election time another manifesto with the same hackney promises, but guess what supporters would make a big deal over who put out manifesto first…silly people…wake up my people, if after 18 years a government enrich its minister with the same money it supposed to use to fix up the country, most of its projects remain incomplete…neighbouring islands are developed while we remain as a primitive jingle….what new do you expect from it if it were to be given another term in office?
Why is the Marigot hospital referred to as “the building of the hospital very controversial hospital,” he said. What is so controversial about building back the Marigot hospital? The only potential medical facility in the vicinity of our main airport should be a priority. No politics needed in this! Marigot is in Dominica and Marigotians are Dominicans. A hospital in Marigot serves us all even though I am from the South of Dominica. Did these hurricanes teach us nothing? Can we please stop the stupid divide over politics. Lennox may be the representative for Marigot, but a hospital in Marigot is not for Lennox, it is for Dominica; citizens and visitors alike! Please grow up my people!
I so agree with you they think building the Marigot hospital is for Lennox and the people of Marigot, this hospital will serve the whole island as it is the closest one to the main airport. Every day I pray that nothing serious happens at that airport to any of the visitors entering our island.
So true, my Dominican people will never learn.
They remain with their heads buried in the sand
Darroux, do you really think you can sell us this nonsense and we are going to swallow it? This is BS if ever I heard one. Mexico fault for Marigot, Chinese fault for PMH. Allow me to give you an update that is much closer to the truth than the one you gave us, none of the 2 projects are going to happen, not in the next 5 years anyway, because the funding for both projects was never in place in the first place! But cast your mind back a year Darroux, what did you tell us then…?
So too, is the Skeritt led administration, a blatant standstill.
You should come down from your comfort zone in the United States and get elected to develop Dominic a. You think it easy to do… I think your are just to Political. .
no news in that one.
Dr. Darroux is one government Minister I like and would have liked to see him succeed because I he had a lot to offer to Dominica. But at this time he ought to have resigned yesterday because he has proven to be a complete failure and truly he allowed Skerrit to destroy a once very promising future he had. Going back to Erika it was his constituents that we’re destroyed and some he himself sadly buried, though not his fault, yet is under his watch. Then he and Skerrit moved his people to Bellevue where they built some China houses for his people that were All destroyed by Maria. It was under his watch Skerrit finally closed down Marigot hospital. Under his watch that so called national hospital renovation that appears to be heading same direction as the coffee plant, Moroccan hotel, the abattoir, that cannot finish; and yes, he was the one to brandish a gun at the parliament, as rumored . This brother has made a fool of himself and Skerrit must be rejoicing @ his stupidity
You forgot brandishing a gun in parliament. Kenneth lost the plot some time ago. He let Skerrit get to him but he isagrown man so must take his own responsibility.
This is incompetence on Steroids. For the past 5 years we’ve been hearing the thing about Marigot. That mess you’ve created inGoodwill is a shame. Now the chinese has to call you up on it. What a shame. Don’t you feel sorry for your people? I truly hope that you guys don’t get too involved in the PAHO/WHO “smart” hospitals. Cause if you do, you will make them “stupid”!
Wow was looking forward to the new hospital, too costly travelling overseas for medial care.