By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says the government expects to finalise the heads of agreement and loan documents for New Providence’s new specialty hospital by Friday, edging forward a flagship project dogged by public scepticism.

Dr Darville told reporters negotiations with the China Export-Import Bank are now in their final stretch.

“I'm excited about it, because very soon, you’ll begin to see the various tractors at the site doing the land preparation to make way for the new contractor to start the work on the new specialty hospital here in New Providence,”  he said.

The hospital is planned for 50 acres in the Perpall Tract and is expected to take between 31 and 36 months to build. Plans call for dedicated maternity and paediatric wards, emergency and intensive care units, surgical theatres, diagnostic labs and mass-casualty infrastructure.

The site selection has stirred controversy for months. Healthcare advocates and nearby residents have questioned whether heavy traffic, limited access routes and longstanding drainage issues make the area suitable for a high-demand, emergency-focused hospital.

Critics say the government has not released enough public information about the site’s environmental and infrastructural suitability.

Funding for the development is anchored by a 20-year, $195m loan from the Chinese ExIm Bank at a two percent interest rate, with a five-year grace period. The remaining $72m is expected to be raised through local or international financing. Officials had hoped to sign the agreements by the end of October, but negotiations continued into late November.

In his address at the PHA Academy graduation, Dr Darville said the hospital project is in its final phase. He added that as this moves ahead, the government is also pressing on with new facilities in Mangrove Cay, Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, Moores Island, the Berry Islands, Cat Island and Inagua, alongside renovations at more than 52 clinics around the country.

Dr Darville also gave an update on the Freeport Health Campus, which previously stalled because funding was tied up in a loan agreement with CIBC.

“If you were to go on the site now, you’ll see a lot of traction has taken place,” he said. “We should have about 125 construction workers at the site moving rapidly to close in the structure and to put the Epicor in place and to pour the ceiling so that we can begin now to do work inside of that facility.”