Health Minister gives ‘possible’ date for new hospital groundbreaking

The new PMH has been on the lips of officials for years now
The new PMH has been on the lips of officials for years now

Health Minister, Kenneth Darroux, has given a “possible” date for the groundbreaking of the much-talked about National Hospital.

Speaking on Kairi’s Heng Programme announced earlier this week he said the groundbreaking will occur in July or August.

“In fact, the Chinese would have written to us looking at a possible groundbreaking date. They said anywhere between late July to early August they will have the groundbreaking,” he said.

The new hospital is being funded by the government of the People’s Republic of China and will be constructed on the site of the present Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

Darroux said about six weeks ago the government finally accepted a proposal by the Chinese for the construction of temporary wards at the hospital site “then we would have the issue of where they are going to be constructed.”

He pointed to the challenges being faced in constructing the facility.

“I want to really be upfront with the public, and it’s something I have been saying ever since I have taken over the mantle of the Ministry of Health, that we have been engaging with the Chinese because the construction of a hospital, of a new building on a site that is currently being used to deliver health service by itself poses many challenges, numerous challenges,” he stated. “We are talking about serious hazards and noise and dust pollution and we wanted to ensure that when construction starts that it’s going to be done with a minimal.”

Additionally, he noted, there will be disruption of services and some inconveniences.

“We cannot get away from that, but we want to ensure that it is done with the minimal disruption of service,” Darroux stated.

He explained that the government is trying to mitigate and minimize some of these challenges.

“So this is why we have had this delay in terms of the actual construction,” he stated.

And according to him, since the construction is going to be on an active hospital site, it has to be done in phases, “and the phases have to be thought of very carefully and the issue of probably temporary buildings while one is being demolished…”

“Our Chinese counterparts would have submitted a proposal that would have been endorsed by the Ministry of Health, because going forward as the Minister of Health I really didn’t want to sign off on anything that was not in agreement with the health providers at the PMH,” Darroux said.

Talks of constructing a new hospital in Dominica goes back to 2010,

That year then Health Minister, Julius Timothy, announced that the groundbreaking 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, at the site of the PMH.

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.

Recently Darroux said the construction of the hospital had “essentially started.”

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48 Comments

  1. True Dominican
    June 18, 2016

    With all these GROUND BREAKING these fools might cause an EARTHQUAKE!! I though they already had a ground breaking and work has already begun? Correct me if i’m wrong.

  2. The truth
    June 17, 2016

    Ground breaking again,you cannot be serious

  3. Favoured
    June 17, 2016

    My Dominica Trade House.Com coming into fruition now. Those of you who were doubting My Dominica Trade House well here are its fruits being delivered.

  4. ????????????????
    June 17, 2016

    What is the cost of this new model village. How is it being funded. Who has to pay for it? Is this a passport funded project? Where is the accountability. What is the safety clause for Dominicans if the project fails or runs into problems down the road. The government has to be more responsible than that with the use of state funds.

    • ok
      June 20, 2016

      Read. Chinese funded

  5. Nonesense
    June 17, 2016

    Mondieu Dominica is not a real country. Lord have mercy on us under this ground breaking Government. Stupeesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  6. South City
    June 17, 2016

    Rome wasn’t build in a day so take all you time. Don’t rush anything. When things are rushed, they’re not properly done and these same wicked, foolish opposition slanderers will have something more to say. I give you guys my full support, don’t give in to these distractions. GOD is on your side and he will direct you.

  7. Truth be Told
    June 17, 2016

    How many times do you all have to break this ground? Are you trying to trigger an earthquake or volcanic eruption! :lol:

    • breakit
      June 17, 2016

      Until it broken. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: More idle talk as usual

  8. shame how
    June 17, 2016

    DOMINICANS NEEDS TO LEAVE DOMINICA POPULATION 21 MINISTERS

  9. Anti-corruption 1
    June 16, 2016

    This gov’t needs to get its act together and stop the BS. It is now nauseating.

  10. Michael
    June 16, 2016

    Kenneth Darroux speaks of risks with the building of the new hospital on the existing PMH site. He is prepared to risk Dominicans dying at the PMH of respiratory illnesses arising from the dust and other pollutants that will be produced by the construction of the new hospital. Is he for real? Is the government so stubborn and short sighted that they will not build a modern hospital at another location?

    With this phased-approach to construction at the existing site, it will take many years before the new long awaited hospital is completed.

    • Favoured
      June 17, 2016

      What is the Disater Specialist advising on this proposed New hospital. I know the others that were there before recommended that it be built outside the southern volcanic zone. Shilling pence oops Shillingford was on Q95 saying if he was at ODM he would insist that New essential services should be built away from Roseau given the volcanic risk but he doesn’t know what the guys down there are saying or doing. Shillingford now is your chance to talk out but you seem very quiet. Has he joined the ranks of people Like Clarence Christian who has been given a consultancy to be advisor to audit. Remember Blackmore said Shillingford is with us now giving us the requisite advise so Cecil lets hear you bro. Tell us if you have changed your position and now everything you said before about government as it relates to disaster management has expired and now null and void. Boy what a tangle web we weave.

  11. breakit
    June 16, 2016

    Hello!!! put a castration ward on the left wing, because we have a lot ah rapists in DA. :twisted:

    • Tjebe Fort
      June 18, 2016

      Castration? Boy, no need for a hospital for that. We have a Minister, who is trained in that. Dr. Mcintyre is a qualified vet.

  12. breakit
    June 16, 2016

    De grong broke jus like de labor party :lol:

  13. June 16, 2016

    I was talking to a poto labour recently and she said that things are hard here. I remarked that you continue to vote for this government so I am not sorry for you.

    Government does not owe you a government Job but must create the avenue for employment. So I said why not give the progressive UWP a chance again to continue their work.

    • forreal
      June 17, 2016

      to continue what work!!!lol lol,my dear uWP was in power and that is a once upon a time,progressive does not mean that they will progress dominica,that is only a political banner, :lol:

  14. Ashamed Dominican
    June 16, 2016

    A. Joke that man lol

  15. June 16, 2016

    Thats all the DLP are good for signing and groundbreaking, and nothing materialise :-D :-D

  16. Real!!!!!
    June 16, 2016

    what percentage on the work on the NEW hospital will be available for the locals?

    You don’t need to finalize design and logistics to answer this question.

    • Tjebe Fort
      June 17, 2016

      From what I know it will be built by a Chinese company bringing their own labour, just like the stadium and the State House. That is cheaper for them and they can make them work seven days a week an not pay social security here. I also understand those empty apartments at Elmshall are for the Chinese medical staff that is going to work at the hospital. I could be wrong but since govt. does not say a thing people will speculate.

  17. socaman
    June 16, 2016

    So the Chinese are going to build the new for old hospital. Let’s hope they construct it better than the bridge and the road
    that they built, all crumbling at the first sign of bad weather. It is sheer madness to build on the same site, moving patients to temporary buildings where they will be subject to germs, dust and who knows what.

  18. Doc. Love
    June 16, 2016

    Before Savarin became a Minister of Government and later President of Dominica, he had a saying that the UWP was famous for breaking grounds. I wonder what would he say now. Every time the Skeritt led administration is put under pressure, we hear the same calypso , Government will be breaking ground next week, next month or next year. Every Minister of the DLP Government which has been given this port folio, has to break ground with the hospital in mind. I would not be surprised, by next week, we are going to hear that the Government intends to break ground to build a new hospital for the Marigot people. Certain DLP Government operatives are saying that a new Airport and a new hospital will be built side by side in Marigot. The reason is, why build a new airport and rebuild the same old hospital when their isn’t any space for the parking of vehicles at the old hospital. According to Mr. Linton’s favorite calypso, you hear lie, that is lie.

  19. d-a born
    June 16, 2016

    I’ll believe there’s a hospital when I see one fully built and operational. Thanks.

  20. Tjebe Fort
    June 16, 2016

    A lot of wind will be broken before they break the ground for that hospital.

  21. %
    June 16, 2016

    AGAIN???But just why are these incompetent representing people as leaders?.Mr Darroux is this for the twelth hospital???

  22. my own
    June 16, 2016

    :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ….. Ground Breaking again :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Just last monthe the health minister told us and I quote “the new hospital has essentially started” …..Did I miss something there?.. In 2012 then health minister Mr. Timothy told us that they were going to begin the new hospital. In the 2014 campaign we were told that hospital was going to start the following year….seem like the following year is not there as yet.
    Yah man, Keep fooling the FOOLS.

  23. vv
    June 16, 2016

    It will start just before the start of the next election

  24. Dan is De Man in de Van
    June 16, 2016

    Ground breaking… Is this a joke DLP.. What about old hospital breaking to rebuild a new one,,

    Stop taking us Dominicans pour sot….. We are educated, we can read and understand and we have seen what you all have not done in the 16 years you all have been in Government… Keeping us without a well equiped Hospital and proper medical support such as Health insurance so when we and our families are facing a life threatening sickness we can crawl up the steps of ministry to beg to be sent to Guadeloupe and Martinique. U all have no shame…

    • June 17, 2016

      Dan is De Man,
      I must strongly disagree with u regarding our level of education. How can an educated and knowledgeable populace continue to vote in this pathetic excuse of a government.
      These people won 15 seats at the last election yet still they have 18 ministers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Any of u Labourites out there care to do some research regarding the makeup of other govts. in CARICOM or OECS. I invite you to educate yourself such that the veil of ignorance surrounding you will dissipate

      • AAGabriel
        June 17, 2016

        I fully agree! I’ve always said the majority of Dominicans are their own worst enemy.

  25. Unknown
    June 16, 2016

    Why cant this government go about doing the work they are paid to, using the resources of the sate – without always singing and dancing and holding ceremonies to celebrate them doing what they are PAID to do?

    The level of immaturity and inadequacy of this administration is appalling. Appalling and dismaying to think that this is the example that the youth have!

    Repetition for years of the same project. Do something useful. Open the Trauama Centre, open an upgraded Pediatric centre, open a state funded home for the homeless and a home for the aged, open a mental institution…for heavens sake- do something productive!!

    • Just Saying
      June 16, 2016

      What will they use to pay for it… largent jasciette??? Very few people are paying taxes be it property, sales or income tax. Since the government does not print money just where are they expected to get it from? The Dominican government is left to beg together with all the other governments – even the US!

  26. AAGabriel
    June 16, 2016

    Lost count of all the ‘possible’ groundbreaking for the new hospital. Don’t these Ministers get tired of listing to their own lies on an almost daily basis?

  27. cameron
    June 16, 2016

    These guys all need to be jailed,and the stupid people of Dominica,whom the continue to fool,i have never came across such a dysfunctional government that the people just accept all this crap,stop fooling the poor people.

  28. For Dominica
    June 16, 2016

    why must it be constructed there? why cant we find another location? i have been saying that for years YOU CANNOT construct a new hospital in the same are as the current PMH. the current hospital is not air conditioned. ALLL the wards only use fans and windows. Where do you think the dust is going to fall? in open wounds and failing respiratory systems, in equipment, in food. I mean come on people! are we idiots?

    • For Dominica
      June 16, 2016

      now you want the CHINESE! to ensure the dust and noise etc is at a minimum? Chinese people you dealing with Doctor. they will tel you yes yes yes then do no no no when you are not looking. Poor us in Dominica. This makes NO sense.

      • Youth
        June 16, 2016

        I agree totally. No reasons have been given why that site was chosen, where is the forward thinking..It would be interesting to have a stakeholder consultation and vote on that choice of site. The risks to hospital patients are indeed real as well as the possible legal implications.This bunch including the Minister just so shallow and short-sighted they are practically negligent.
        It is going to be hell for patients, health professionals and the public at large during this construction.Mark my words.

    • Me
      June 16, 2016

      Well, that is one way of reducing the patients waiting list!

  29. Favoured
    June 16, 2016

    Well going by the series of ground breaking that has gone by before example renaming of Melville Hall airport sewo, the arrival the PM with a fake honorary doctorate a sewo at Canefield Airport, Baroness Scotland succeeds as Secretary General to the commonwealth sewo by State House, breaking ground for Roseau West bridge sewo, so expect breaking ground for New hospital to have a sewo too. I think the only reason why the minister cannot give a precise date is because Kassav maybe haven’t given a date they will be available. In the interim there is no money for Marigot hospital and for public works workers, there is no money to repair Salisbury resource center etc etc etc. Dominica nice boy.

  30. dissident
    June 16, 2016

    kenneth darroux that new hospital project at goodwill have you putting your foot in your mouth like you don’t have all de information or there is an issue with full disclosure.
    just May 31, 2016 you mentioned that work on the ‘new’ hospital has “essentially started”.
    If DLP administration have to go thru all that twakka to put a new general hospital at goodwill what can you expect to happen re: a new hospital in marigot to serve de north east and particularly the airport??
    but we making so much money selling passports!!!
    skerrit just mention he going to bring a Mariott hotel here on top of that foolishness at the proposed Moroccan Hotel..does that convince anyone that your DLP administration serious abou t healthcare in Dominica.
    All this at a time when a Dominican national seats at de head of PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization)

    WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES?
    i read somewhere we always get what we deserve!
    you really can’t do better than dat!
    Got BitCoin??????

  31. Channel 1
    June 16, 2016

    Steeeuuuuuuuppppppppppsssssssssssssss!!!

    We all know about this waste-of-time government and their ‘breaking of the ground’ ceremonies and utterances.

    DNO, it is high time now that your investigative journalists report back to the public on the status of the Coast Guard base which was supposed to have been built in north of the island, for which ground was broken by the government of Roosevelt Skerrit in 2012.

    DNO, has that Coast Guard base project in the north started? If not, why hasn’t it started as yet – we’re already in 2016 eh – despite a US $1.7 million grant being given for it to be built?

    Reminder y’all – https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/economy-development/ground-breaking-for-northern-coast-guard-base-new-vessels-commissioned/

    • Bayfront
      June 16, 2016

      well if we can’t get that info re the coast guard base….maybe it’s wise to write to the US Embassy inquiring the status in terms of if their was a hold up funds other issue?

      The US would disclose the matter i would think as it’s not a covert deal?

      • Channel 1
        June 16, 2016

        @Bayfront – Totally agree. Somebody definitely needs to find out from the US Embassy what is going on since journalists in Dominica are either unable to report or unwilling to report to the public on the status of that base.

        I hope the Americans did not just release their funds ‘carte blanche’ into the hands of Roosevelt Skerrit. I hope they still have the funds secured so that when the United Workers Party of Dominica becomes the government – hopefully very soon – the base will then be built.

        Just look at Roosevelt’s face in the link of the 2012 DNO report on the Coast Guard base ‘ground breaking’ ceremony. DNO should have a “Caption this photo” segment and first up, use that photo of Roosevelt to open that segment. Look jokes that going let go.

    • AAGabriel
      June 16, 2016

      Yes, I’m wondering about that… Did Erika fill the hole Skerrit dug and then they stopped with construction? The boats, may be they use them to bring fresh produce to the neighbouring islands. Please don’t make me laugh, it’s just to serious an issue! Skerrits government is the biggest circus on the entire planet…

  32. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    June 16, 2016

    Something is wrong with Darroux mind!

    Less than three weeks ago this guy came out on DNO and made the claim that “the new hospital is essentially started.”

    Any idiot who has never been to kindergarten knew he was talking nonsense “is essentially started;” such vocabulary might only be understood by him. Today he came with an uncertainty of for the ground breaking.

    How can anybody with commonsense take Darroux and the rest of the circus seriously?

    Boy you have nothing important to inform the nation, just be quiet and continue to live like a puppet okay! Enjoy your paycheck and your rum while Dominica continues to sink!

  33. June 16, 2016

    but wait a minute “work has essentially started”….”possible groundbreaking date” but Darroux I thought the ground was already broken! hahaha look jokes…Mr Prime Minister tell these men to stop embarrassing you souplay!

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