The redevelopment of the St Jude Hospital seems to be nearing completion according to the government and the contractors on the ground. However it remains unclear as to how close residents in the South of the island may be to seeing a full completion of the facility.
The loss of the original hospital and “temporary” transition to the George Odlum Stadium has placed strain on medical professionals in the south of Saint Lucia. The hospital was founded in the 1960s by Mother Irma and the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, a Franciscan religious order from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the United States of America and served as as staple in the southern half of Saint Lucia for decades with the old Victoria Hospital and other smaller medical facilities serving as the primary care facilities in the north of the island.
Since a tragic fire engulfed the original structure in 2009, multiple administrations grappled with stalled reconstruction efforts, eventually leading to the setup of two structures, one by the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) and the other by the United Workers Party (UWP). These projects have been at the centre of a back and forth between the UWP and the SLP for 16 years, with increased public frustration during this period. As a new election cycle approaches, St Jude remains a significant political talking point.
During the campaign leading up to the 2021 election, the Philip J Pierre-led SLP administration had promised the completion of the project at the original site within their tenure in government, following a decision made by the then Chastanet-led government to move to a structure now commonly referred to in political circles as “the box”.
The true financial toll of this back and forth between political parties on this nearly two decade long project is difficult to quantify, because the costs were incurred and reported at different times by different governments. With the addition of the EC$201 million (US$75 million) loan from the government of Saudi Arabia secured for completion, the final total cost of the St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project will be over EC$400 million, based on reported figures.
In October 2025, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre indicated that “the physical infrastructure” for St Jude would be ready by the end of year. However, he later clarified that the facility as a functioning hospital “has to get commissioned” and the SLP promised to give the building, within their tenure. Project lead contractor Rayneau Gajadhar had indicated that the reconstruction is “98.5 per cent complete” because “there is always something to do and improve on.”
St. Lucia Times was granted an opportunity to tour the site of the St Jude Hospital, as it approaches completion to gain insight into the work being done. Once completed, the structure will house a dialysis centre, nursery, offices, laundry facilities, staff areas, and more.
A date for total completion and handover is currently unknown. The facility appears to be well underway, however, the installation of medical equipment is still pending.
Questions have been raised across social media platforms as to what will constitute true delivery on the promises made by the government when it came into office. On one hand supporters of the UWP like political candidate for Dennery South Benson Emilie indicate that a failure to produce a functioning hospital and not just a mere external infrastructure will be a mismatch to the promises made by the government while it was campaigning.
“It is deeply disappointing to hear the Prime Minister’s recent address about the St Jude Hospital, revealing that after more than four years, the facility will not be commissioned as a fully functioning hospital but merely as a building” he said via post on his social media pages. “This announcement stands in stark contrast to the promises made during the SLP’s campaign pledges that St Jude’s would be completed and operational within two years. The people of Saint Lucia have waited patiently and endured repeated assurances, only to be met now with excuses instead of accountability. What should have been a symbol of hope and progress has become a reminder of one of many broken promises and misplaced priorities by this SLP administration” Emilie added.
In contrast, the Labour Party contends that what it has achieved given the circumstances surrounding the project is commendable. In a post via Facebook, the SLP noted the following:
“No other government has done what the Labour Party has achieved. Despite inheriting a disaster of delays, mismanagement, demolished buildings, and a structure abandoned by the former United Workers Party (UWP) administration, the Labour government made a solemn promise to the people of the south: St Jude will be delivered. That promise has been kept.”
St Jude remains a major focal point in the upcoming election and in the development of the nation going forward. Further questions remain, including queries as to what will become of the “box” should the current administration finish the location they are working at now.
What focal point?? The hospital is 98.5 percent done and only needs furnishings, the government should move to use the facility on a low level operation basis until it’s fully up to capacity, because if the yellow clowns regain power they would stop that 98.5 percent completion, due to their egregious egotistic beliefs and behavior, they are wicked enough to do it. Tropical Trump did so with the Soufriere Waterfront project and the government administration buildings in VF, they would stop the new Police HQ just because……they have a track record of demonstrating their vindictiveness to the St Lucian people in the name of self proclaimed “we did it”. The focal point will be Venezuela not St Jude’s……..what Jamaica will loose for this winter season St Lucia will be sure to gain but if there is an instability in the region due to a war in Venezuela those gains will be short lived.