St Lucia PM in talks over medical university

CASTRIES (CMC):

The St Lucia government said on Friday that it was holding negotiations “with several institutions” to allow for the establishment of a medical university here.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who is due to address the nation on Sunday, wrote on his Facebook page that the proposed university “will serve as a strategic move as it will allow both the hospital and the university to benefit from the services and opportunities of each other”.

While Chastanet gave no details as to which organisation the government was holding negotiations regarding the proposed medical university, it is likely that the facility would be situated in the south of the island.

He said that progress was ongoing with the reconstruction of the St Jude’s Hospital in the south and that the 90-bed facility, when completed, would include a new wing to incorporate all the functions and services of the existing East and Surgical wings and that there would be retrofitting of some existing buildings to achieve a fully functioning hospital.

“Given that the previous buildings were not built up to standard for a hospital, our government is currently negotiating with several institutions to allow for the establishment of a medical university in the buildings which were previously constructed,” he wrote.

Chastanet said his address on Sunday night will “touch on key areas including security and justice, healthcare, education, investments, major projects, and speak about the continuing journey to bring empowerment to the people and plans to build a new St Lucia”.