The Philip J. Pierre administration came into office on July 26, 2021. The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) 2021 manifesto said: “ The St Jude hospital will be opened within the shortest possible time.”

St Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project (SJHSP) lead contractor, Rayneau Gajadhar, on Monday posted his final countdown on social media:

“St Jude Hospital. Rayneau's team has come together to finalise all installations for the opening of St Jude's hospital. The much-anticipated completion has been held back for seven full weeks – to be explained if necessary- but a way forward has been agreed.”

Rayneau Gajadhar

Commissioning St Jude hospital (an 80-year+ rehabilitation project)

Commissioning a hospital is not an afterthought. Accreditation is a major requirement. Operational funding, insurance and the necessary permits are must-haves.

Commissioning is a quality assurance process that ensures that buildings and building services meet operational needs. It involves the design phase right through the construction process, down to testing, training, staffing, etc, in an integrated seamless system that is ready for patient care from day one.

Delivering a hospital building

Delivering a hospital building facilitates the close coordination and completion in accordance with construction/building specifications – design, testing, regulatory requirements, compliance with standards, codes and equipment installation – alongside the specialised commissioning team, building operation, and management teams working in tandem with readiness for operation.

Unable to occupy?

To answer the question: how much longer at the George Odlum National Stadium (GONS) in Vieux-Fort, currently serving as a temporary hospital after 16 years, it is essential to understand that if a“building/facility/hospital is completed” but is“unable to be occupied,” the narrative usually means that [perhaps] the building/facility/hospital has not met all of the legal, safety and issuance of certificates, relative to vigorous and specific requirements.

Demystifying commissioning and delivering a hospital building project – St Jude hospital – must provide clear communication and timelines, regulatory compliance, and all necessary documentation to ensure the hospital is properly fit and functional. These are not political attributes for the game of politics and politicians, but for specialised and highly skilled professionals.

Facing backlash and potential formal review, commissioning and delivering a hospital building project – St Jude hospital – the premier health facility in the south, has merit for arguments.

While politics heavily influences healthcare and related services, the game of politics and healthcare are not interchangeable. However, restraint in a politically charged environment, gazing at an election on a Monday, is inevitable.

Government assurance on St Jude hospital

Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste insists that the St Jude hospital will open to the public by the end of 2025.

Prime Minister Pierre has assured that the government continues to modernise wellness centres, make emergency response systems more accessible to all citizens, to complement the opening of St Jude hospital.

23 April 2025, budget speech:

“The project is being implemented under segmented contract packages, supported by a full-time supervision consultant. Technical teams conduct weekly inspections, quality control verifications, and milestone reviews to ensure alignment with approved engineering standards and schedules. The St Jude Hospital has been developed to meet international healthcare infrastructure standards, with an emphasis on durability, energy efficiency, and climate resilience across all building systems,” said Prime Minister Pierre.

Foundational planning

The fundamentals of commissioning a hospital and/ or delivering a hospital building involve comprehensive long-term planning.

Components of operational funding for St Jude remain crucial. Already, the 2.5 percent Health and Security levy

The public healthcare narrative and strategy ought not to be confusing, causing more grounds for anxiety to many patients awaiting medical service in the south. This includes nationals who routinely travel overseas for healthcare.

“St Jude hospital is a headache. I saw that commissioning issue coming,” according to a tourism specialist.“The proactive bipartisan posture on healthcare is ill-considered to set clear goals, policy, and timelines for the common good.”

The governing narrative on healthcare and St Jude hospital at this 11th hour of the general elections is duty-bound to comply with the delivery and commissioning of St Jude hospital. After 16 years, patients at GONS and the people of Saint Lucia deserve premium healthcare.

@GlobalCaribbean

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