KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – The Taiwanese company, Overseas Engineering & Construction Co. (OECC), which was awarded the multi-million dollar contract to construct the acute referral hospital at Arnos Vale, will prioritize employing local workers, the Taiwan Embassy here has said.
“OECC prioritizes employing local workers, aiming to create job opportunities and assist in training skilled laborers within St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the embassy said.
“Adhering to this mission, OECC plans to employ both skilled and non-skilled local laborers for the construction of Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital in SVG,” the embassy added.
Prime Minister DR. Ralph Gonsalves signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with OECC late last month to begin building the new hospital.
The estimated cost of the project and equipping the hospital has been put at US$110 million. Prime Minister Gonsalves told the signing ceremony that he was looking forward to the hospital being completed in less than 32 months after construction begins. He thanked Taiwan for the rapid mobilization of OECC’s team and for providing soft loans to meet the urgent needs of the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Taiwan’s ambassador, Fiona Huei Chun Fan, described the construction of the hospital as a testament to her country’s mutual commitment to the health and well-being of Vincentians with St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This new hospital creates another shining example following the resounding success of Rabacca Bridge, the National Library, and the terminal building of Argyle International Airport,” the diplomat said, anticipating that the OECC team will collaborate with local workers to complete the hospital.
The embassy described OECC as a global construction firm with extensive experience in building major infrastructure projects.
“OECC has provided high-quality services in the past in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and has recently completed hospital projects in the region.”
The government has said that the new medical facility would provide specialized services in cardiology, dialysis, and urology, and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital will be transformed into a maternal-child and health center once the state-of-the-art acute care hospital opens.
and then , which was awarded the multi-million){kind=link}