THE WAY IS ALREADY being cleared for the restart of construction of a new state-of-the-art polyclinic in St John.
The SATURDAY SUN understands that the ground-breaking ceremony is slated for later this month. Yesterday Minister of Health Donville Inniss and a few other officials yesterday paid a visit to the Glebe site as tractors moved in to remove debris and push down any obstacles in the way.
The polyclinic was the subject of much discussion during the recent St John by-election, which was won by Mara Thompson, widow of late Prime Minister David Thompson.
In the heat of the campaign leading up to the January 20 poll, each side of the political divide blamed the other for the stalled project. At the time, the health minister announced that by March 15 the multi-million dollar project would be restarted.
He said then that ten companies had tendered for the project, with price tags ranging between $16 million and $22 million.
Later he told the House of Assembly that ADC Builders had been awarded the contract.
Besides doctors’ and nurses’ offices, the clinic will offer mental health and paramedical services.
It will also have an ambulance bay and accommodation for environmental health officers as well as facilities for the constituency council, welfare office and other social agencies.
Yesterday Thompson said: “I just want the people of St John to know that Government is delivering on its promise.” (CG)