The new Peebles Hospital is set for completion in 2013 with a 15-18 month timeline, commencing from May 7, 2012.

Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie Skelton.

The closure came last evening May 7, 2012 on NDP Radio talk show hosted on a local radio station where Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie Skelton in responding to a caller regarding the status of the hospital, said, “… there were a couple of snags I think they are worked out now and the contractors are supposed to be on the job and if the clock starts running from now, at least 15-18 months out. It all depends on the speed and intensity the contractor takes on the job, he has an 18 month window and I am pushing for 15.”

Interestingly, on January 18, 2012, Hon. Skelton had told Virgin Islands News Online that the physical structure of the new hospital will be completed by the middle of 2013.

Hon. Skelton, who had visited the site a few weeks before the January 18 interview, had revealed that he was pleased with the progress made by James Todman Construction Ltd – the local firm hired to complete the exterior and interior works of the health facility, which cost close to $70M.

“So from the assessment, I anticipate that its [physical work] will be finished by mid 2013 along with some equipment inside,” the Health Minister had said. “We just want to dot our I’s and cross our T’s regarding the administrative apart of the contract.”

Meanwhile, Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith in his budget address on January 17, 2012 said he was deeply concerned about the manner in which the hospital project was handled in his party’s absence. However, he too had divulged that the continuation of the interior works will begin shortly and that the hospital will be commissioned in the next 15 to 18 months.

The previous administration, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), had signed a $4.174M contract with James Todman to erect canopies at the main entrance, pave the yard, construct retaining walls and stairs, repair pipes and replace basement windows, among other things. It was signed on May 12, 2011. Then on November 4, 2011, the former Premier and Finance Minister Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal had inked a contract for the interior works of the hospital between Todman Construction and a US-based company.

When fully operational the 150,000 square foot, six-storey facility will include over 120 beds, three standard-size operating theatres, two nursing stations to support each of the major hospital wards, three labour and delivery rooms, a physiotherapy wing, a chapel, cafeteria and gift shop, among others.

The Royal Run Around
This news site had made several attempts over a week period to solicit information on the status of the project and a more definitive timeline and was referred to several persons. One of those persons was the Project Engineer Mr. Benette Smith who told the reporter to do some research and find the information he needs, because the information was already released months ago and it made no sense for him to give the same information.

However, it is noted that the January timeline of 18 months and mid-2013 which were previously made public, did not have a definitive commencement date.
However, the timeline of 15-18 months given last evening by Minister Skelton, has now made it clear that commencement date is from May 7, 2012.

This news agency was also told to contact Ms. Shaina Smith who has a contract for the new hospital project, however, Ms. Smith said she could not give out any information and referred this news agency to Information Officer for the Ministry of Health Nadia James-Lord who referred us to Permanent Secretary Petrona Davies, who was also previously contacted but could not have been reached.

However, Permanent Secretary Mrs. Davies was reached yesterday afternoon May 7, 2012 and when informed of the run around for information on the matter, revealed that she was away last week and apologized. She informed this news site that Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie Skelton will be making an announcement on the project on Thursday May 10, 2012 and she would not have liked to pre-empt him but would be able to give any more information after.