PM Vows St Jude Hospital Will Open Its Doors This Year

The long-awaited St Jude Hospital is on track to open this year, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announced during his New Year’s address on Sunday. Since fire destroyed the Augier, Vieux Fort facility in 2009, healthcare services have been operating out of the George Odlum Stadium on what was supposed to be a temporary basis. However, 15 years later, despite repeated promises from successive governments, the south of the island still lacks a fully functioning hospital. In his address on Sunday, Pierre said that would change this year. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre delivering his New Year’s address to the nation. “After securing the necessary funding from the Saudi Fund for Development, we are at the final stage of completion and commissioning of a new, modern, fully-equipped St Jude Hospital at the original site. We are confident that the new St. Jude Hospital will open its doors to the public in 2025,” the prime minister said. The project, which also includes the refurbishment of the George Odlum Stadium, is being funded through a US$75 million (EC$200 million) loan from the Saudi Fund. The new hospital will feature 12 buildings in total, four of which were completed by contractor CIE Ltd...