Coming hot off the heels of a prior health announcement, the SJH Reconstruction team provided a much-anticipated update regarding the progress of works.

“There are no more delays at St. Jude,” assured Project Liaison Wilson on August 21st, 2o24 during the Ministry of Health’s “Public Health Insider” radio programme.

“The contractor is mobilising all of his resources to ensure that as soon as September 12th comes and the contracts are signed that we can hit the ground running.”

During the show, Wilson confirmed that Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd (CIE) and Caribbean Consulting Engineers (CCE) were the two firms contracted by the government for the total completion of the hospital.

While CIE will be responsible for the cement-and-motor aspect of things, CCE will be supervising the construction. According to the Project Liaison, the two contractors were selected after an “international tender process” facilitated by the Department of Economic Development, Ministry of Finance.

“We expect to be present, representatives from the Saudi Fund for Economic Development, I believe the CEO and a senior officer will be in attendance at that signing ceremony. All of the contracts have been fully negotiated and vetted and they're ready for signing,” he explained.

He also detailed the scope of works required for the total completion of the hospital, ranging from the construction of new wings to the concreting of car parks.

“That includes the two buildings, the East Wing, Surgical Wing, and the remaining buildings in the facility. All of the perimeter works, all of your external works, your sewage lines, your sewage treatment plant, to bring all of those into operation, completion of the car parks, and all of your climate-proofing works as well.”

These works will comprise Phase Two of construction, while Phase One is reportedly “about 70% complete.”

Phase One entailed electrical and plumbing works on four buildings, namely the Administrative Building, the Physiotherapy Division, and the Laundry and Kitchen.

The completed hospital will comprise 12 buildings.