By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Following the Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) resumption of St Jude reconstruction in S.T.E.P methodology, and a Facebook post: “What a difference a week makes: Our St Jude hospital site is no longer a ‘jungle’. Preparations for intense reconstruction continues. Together we will get this job done”, comes the utterances of a casual speaking minister for health, Moses Jn Baptiste “… I can tell you there are a number of parties who are interested in that building.”
The building referenced minister Jn Baptiste is widely referred to as “The Box” – “Guy Box” or “The State of the Art New St Jude hospital” the previous administration spent untold millions, is incomplete.
St Lucia’s so-called new hospital remains less than 30 percent complete, says review committee
Wittingly or unwitting, health minister Jn Baptiste may have blundered with a premature and incomplete statement – caught many Saint Lucians by surprise.
Nonchalantly speaking, Jn Baptiste signalled that the GOSL has inadvertently joined the long list of foreclosures and non-performing mortgages and the desire to dispose state assets. This also signals government policy, programs and ideas – continue to be short-term and shortsighted.
St Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project: 13 years of an ongoing national disgrace
In recent years, ample inventory of private and state property, movable and non-movable assets are up for sale on the island. And in the best expertise and advice to the GOSL, said an insider, “The government is not interested in The Box” – “Guy Box” or “The State of the Art New St Jude hospital,” adding “ The government has identified policy actions and investment opportunities implemented within the last five years that have not made proper use of financial allocations or natural resources,” concluding: “A deal will go down.”
To compound health and infrastructure weakness in Saint Lucia, the flash floods in the north of the island on November 6, 2022, exposes the blue umbrella King, comedy of errors:
St Lucia’s infrastructure minister cannot fix roads … in ‘rainy season’
“I have recalled Stephenson King, senior minister and minister with responsibility for Infrastructure back to the island as he was en route to Mexico City on a fully sponsored trip to the ninth Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean. His ministry will be critical in the clean-up and rebuilding of our infrastructure,” said prime minister Philip Pierre.
More efficiently, to reduce the impacts of climate change on people and businesses, and to enhance competitiveness in global markets the ministry of health offers, post-disaster flood tips and post-trough mental health and psychological first aid.
The utterances of “concern about this building” and that “ the government is continuing to engage interested parties, and at the right time, the prime minister will make an announcement,” underscores the sophistry, manipulation and waffle at play.
In essence, the context and circumstances of the ministers for health and infrastructure are politically adverse and manipulated.
