Fifteen years after the St. Jude Hospital (SJH) fire, Allen Chastanet, former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, laments over delays in the health facility’s reconstruction.
“Today marks 15 years since the devastating fire that destroyed St. Jude Hospital—a tragic event that left the people of the south without an adequate healthcare facility. Fifteen years on, we find ourselves still without the new, state-of-the-art hospital that our people deserve. Had the United Workers Party (UWP) been reelected in 2021, this vital project would have been completed by now!” Chastanet asserted.
The former Prime Minister aired his thoughts on social media, adding, “We were on track to deliver a world-class hospital, with advanced healthcare services for our citizens.”
The UWP administration held office from 2016 to 2021 but the party’s tenure did not see the SJH reconstruction completed.
Since then, progress reports on St. Jude’s reconstruction have been periodically issued by the current government of the St. Lucia Labour Party, over the past three years.
Most recently, Silas Wilson, the Liaison Officer on the project, appeared on local news station MBC where he declared that four buildings which were expected to be completed in June this year but were not due to shipping delays, were now on track to be finished by the end of this year.
Wilson said: “On September the 12th the government will be hosting a contract signing ceremony at the Finance Administrative Center in Castries.”
This ceremony, Wilson disclosed, would kickstart phase two of the project, which includes completion of the four delayed buildings.
The government hopes to maintain this momentum, completing other key surrounding facilities, ultimately leading to completion of St. Jude Hospital’s reconstruction.
Allen Chastanet’s full statement on St. Jude Hospital appears below:
Today marks 15 years since the devastating fire that destroyed St. Jude Hospital—a tragic event that left the people of in the south without an adequate healthcare facility. Fifteen years on, we find ourselves still without the new, state-of-the-art hospital that our people deserve. Had the United Workers Party (UWP) been reelected in 2021, this vital project would have been completed by now!
We made significant strides with the construction of a modern facility that would have finally brought an end to this long-standing crisis. We were on track to deliver a world-class hospital, with advanced healthcare services for our citizens. Yet, three years into the Saint Lucia Labour Party’s (SLP) administration, we have seen little to no progress on the main buildings of the hospital.
Shockingly, after three years in office, the SLP has managed to only do work on the dialysis unit, physiotherapy, administration, and the laundry. Meanwhile, the core of the hospital—the main buildings that house critical medical services—remains untouched. This lack of urgency is a direct disservice to the people of Saint Lucia, particularly those in the south, who continue to rely on inadequate facilities for healthcare. You deserve better!
Chastanet is a political miscreant. Moreover, he speaks at length without making any sense. If he were reelected I can assure you that corruption would be the order of the day. St. Jude’s Hospital would never see the light of day but it would be a cash cow for him and his cronies to enrich themselves. Chastanet doesn’t know how to work within a budget; he thinks money is infinite. With his mindset, the UWP will be in opposition as long as he remains the political leader.
REALLY
Hahaha hahahaha……..there is nothing more to do but just laugh……..in the words of The Most Honorable KDA on his tour of St Jude’s after the election “what have they done….this is a box”……and that’s what it was A BOX. The Coolie spent ECD$ 1 million on evaluation and assessment……1 million ALONE. Who forget all that plywood fencing that was use ? Do you know how much for a piece of plywood in St Lucia…..check Home Depot or True Value…….ridiculous.. St Lucia is not going back to these fools, St Jude’s will be completed just now for all to see.
Yeh but 15yrs and you want ppl to believe this? Oh man don’t insult us right now you too late for this shit to be honest. A hospital take 15 years to build to served less than a 180k people considering the entire island. This is foolishness to the max and we the citizens should gubble all you politicians trash.
Chastanet says a REJECTED UWP could never finish SJH.
Empty words, broken promises 🤦♂️. Both parties are jokers. Their friends and Jabals are the only ones gaining
Chastanet SHETT UPP!!!!
@Abc. That’s why we have to keep voting them out every 5 years. Let them stay hungry while out of office. Hopefully, one day the people will learn and a group will emerge that actually represents the interest of their people. And of course the people vote for them and stop with the stupid loyalty to party.
All these politicians both sides one not better than they other birds of the same feathers, lucians are all wearing blinders heading for the cliff?
Chastanet reminded me of Lord Nelson’s song, You hear lie , that is lie.
Oh please Mr Chastanet you need to get the hell out of there case close . The current administration will open the hospital soon , as you made a mess with the box you constructed , so much land for a horse racing track which is a white elephant , what about the 7 million for our vaccines you gave Sandals 24 million.. Tropical Trump the product from Canada you will lose the micoud south seat in 26