The 14th anniversary of the St. Jude Hospital Fire was a moment of reflection for both the ruling SLP and the Opposition UWP on the hundreds of millions spent so far, in apparent vain. Most extravagant was the Chastanet-led administration, which abandoned the hospital structure altogether in favour of constructing a supposed brand new building to house patients; a building which is still incomplete. The day’s Prime Minister, Hon. Philip J. Pierre has made a bold promise to Saint Lucians - the completion of the hospital - an act that would increase confidence in his administration. Failure to do so may prove disastrous to his party and painful for the country.

“Finally, we are going to get finance to complete St. Jude Hospital - finally. Hopefully, we will get St. Jude completed for the people of the south and the people of Saint Lucia,” Pierre announced ahead of Parliament’s commencement on September 12th, 2023.

Notably, prior administrations were unable to secure total financing for the completion of the hospital. Through the generous loan agreement from the Saudi Fund for Development, the government has acquired enough to not only repatriate patients and healthcare providers to the hospital but to also refurbish the George Odlum Stadium.

The Prime Minister, however, plays his cards close to his chest. Instead of providing an unsure completion date, the Prime Minister has sought to keep the expectations of Saint Lucians measured. “We are going to complete St. Jude Hospital at the earliest possible opportunity. After the loan is passed in Parliament, the tender process will go on and the money will begin to arrive and St. Jude Hospital will finally be completed.”

Pierre also provided an update on the current progress of work at the hospital. “St. Jude is progressing in a good manner. What’s left to be done is the mechanical, engineering, and plumbing work. The place has transformed. The more I go there, the more I try to find out why the building wasn’t completed - it’s a mystery. You can’t find one definitive document that says the original building should not be completed.”

In his contribution to Parliament, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet, announced the Opposition’s satisfaction with the terms and conditions of the loan given to the government by the Saudi Fund for Development. “[The Opposition is] happy with the terms of the Saudi loan. We are happy the Saudis have chosen not to put the money through CDB and to facilitate a quicker expenditure and implementation”.

The government asks the people of Saint Lucia for more patience as the hospital is being completed. The new structure built by the former administration will also be retained and put to use by the state.