The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is moving closer to breaking ground on its new climate-resilient general hospital, with Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew confirming that environmental and building approvals are in their final stages.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Drew announced that preparations for the state-of-the-art facility are nearly complete. “The hospital is well on its way. We are in the final stages of getting all the approvals from the building board and the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment). All of this is being done and almost completed, and will be completed for us to move forward just now in its construction,” he stated.
Construction of the new hospital is expected to begin in December 2025. The facility will be designed to withstand category five hurricanes, ensuring that critical health services remain operational even under the most extreme climate conditions.
“In the era of climate change, we will see Category Five hurricanes hitting the region, and our hospital cannot withstand a category five hurricane… that is why I took that decision,” Dr. Drew explained, describing the project as both a national necessity and a long-term investment in resilience.
Drawing on an analogy of foresight and preparedness, the Prime Minister added: “If Noah knew that the rain was going to come and there was going to be flood, build the ark… Well, if we know that is coming to us, let us build the hospital that can withstand what we know is a possibility of hitting St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Beyond its focus on durability, the project also aims to stimulate the local economy through job creation during construction and operation. Dr. Drew affirmed that the hospital would be built to international certification standards and serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis “for at least fifty years.”
The new general hospital forms part of the Government’s wider agenda to modernise national infrastructure, improve access to quality healthcare, and strengthen public institutions against the growing threats of climate change.
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