Was St. Jude Handing Over Ceremony Based On the OKEU story?

Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it, said the wise old man, George Santayana. To remind you of this saddest of all tales of official contempt that started sixteen years ago, dear reader, seems almost criminal on my part. Still, it cannot be swept under the carpet. And so, here we are again.

Billions spent. Yes, Billions. With a capital B. And the most we seem able to come up with, after all these years of unaccounted spending and incessant waffling, is another “handing over ceremony,” this time to mark the taking over by a government ministry of a maze of fourteen buildings put together like a game of Jenga, described by some as unsuitable for its purpose, and by the usual suspects as “a state of the art hospital.” If only to refresh your  tired memory: A fire of undisclosed origin destroyed the original St. Jude Hospital in 2009, taking the lives of three patients. Staff and patients were relocated to George Odlum Sports Stadium in Vieux Fort, for what was supposed to be a few months.

The board and staff of St. Jude Hospital described the public response in 2009 as “valiant,” and expressed appreciation for the donations of money, the time and equipment invested in the construction of a new facility.

The first plan of action in 2010 of the United Workers Party administration was to demolish, reconstruct and equip the scorched surgical and paediatric wards and the operations theatre. The rebuilt facility was scheduled for completion by the end of 2011, with the Stephenson King administration now replaced by Kenny Anthony’s Labour Party. Alas, due to reported miscalculations and other errors it was decided to demolish the King project altogether and replace it with a new building, at an estimated cost of US$125 million.  

Come February 2014, construction was still not complete. Health minister Alvina Reynolds promised delivery by September 2014. But six years after the devastating fire, staff and patients were still being housed in the George Odlum sports stadium, despite its reported “significantly deteriorated” condition. The cost of repairs was estimated at $15 million.  

Following the 2016 elections, the project was handed back to a UWP government now led by Allen Chastanet that soon decided a re-evaluation of the situation was necessary. All work came to a halt. 

Hess Corporation, Bank of Saint Lucia, Cable & Wireless, and international governments, specifically that of United Mexican States and the Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as organizations like the United Nations Office for Project Services   and private donors having donated some $150 million to the reconstruction, the project was on 9 August 2017 handed over to the Ministry of Health. Actually, the hand-over comprised the hospital morgue.   

“I’m in relentless pursuit to see that this hospital, St Jude Hospital, be opened,” said Dr. Ulric Mondesir, chairman of the board of directors. He hoped the completed hospital would be seen as a Christmas and New Year’s gift to the sick.   

Sadly, several weeks after she toured the premises with St Jude’s Board of Directors, Health minister Mary Isaac announced, on September 14, that the redevelopment project might very well be altogether discontinued. “I believe that the recommendation to demolish the hospital and start all over again really needs to be considered seriously.” she announced. It had been decided that the newly constructed building would be unsuitable for the purposes of a hospital. It would better serve as a school, the minister said.

The House opposition under Kenny Anthony, demanded the Allen Chastanet administration to “make a definitive statement on the future of St Jude Hospital.” The SLP declared Minister Isaac’s statement “horrifying.”  

A board member said: “We don’t want to find ourselves between the political parties.” His chairman was unavailable for comment, busy as he was at meetings related to new plans for the hospital. A staffer complained that supplies were limited, with parts of the Odlum stadium falling apart. There was also limited space in which to deliver proper patient services.     Because of several burst pipes and consequent flooding, patients had to be moved around. There was also the problem of understaffing.

“We do the best we can with what we have,” said the staffer. “The decisions by politicians are frustrating but there are people of the south in need of our services.” 

Fast forward to November, 2025, just days before another general election:  At a pre-Cabinet press briefing during which St. Jude Hospital was referenced, Prime Minister Pierre announced that “the building” would be complete before the elections. He added that the hospital remained to be commissioned. Moreover, he reminded attendant press personnel that he never said the hospital would be completed in his first term as prime minister.  

As I write, it is widely advertised that yet another ceremony is to be held in Vieux Fort, during which St. Jude Hospital will be received from the contractor and “handed over.” But handed over to whom? Certainly not the sick people of Vieux Fort. By official and other announcements, “the building” is near empty and remains to be “commissioned.” Indeed, several pictures of the advertised open-air ceremony with prominent SLP personnel are to be seen on Facebook, perhaps the most prominent being one feature contractor Rayneau costumed in what appears to be Arab garb—as if he were playing Ole Mas in an off-season carnival.

Ironically, the unconfirmed story that St Jude has already cost close to $500 million went unmentioned. Only Kenny Anthony hinted at the cost over-runs, when he called on the prime minister to inform the nation of the price it has paid for a hospital yet to be delivered to its people.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice . . . Vote for you?