PHILIPSBURG--Talks are continuing for the financing of a new general hospital for St. Maarten, says caretaker Health Minister Emil Lee.
“We are in constant discussions with Holland and the potential financiers to structure an agreement,” Lee told The Daily Herald on Monday. “We are optimistic that a conclusion to negotiations is almost complete.”
Lee reiterated sentiments expressed after Hurricane Irma that the structure of the original hospital design would have to be enhanced. “Since Hurricane Irma, there have been discussions with SMMC [St. Maarten Medical Centre – Ed.] as well as Holland about the need to strengthen the structure of the new hospital to be able to withstand category 5-plus storms,” he said.
“While the original design specifications were for Category 5 storms, the new reality based on Hurricane Irma has made it necessary to design for super-storms. This would mean that instead of a panel wall system, a reinforced concrete structure would be built instead. This naturally has an impact on the budget, which needs to be financed.”
Lee had said in late October last year that the Netherlands had been presented with a number of different possible solutions. “Our request that I believe is the most reasonable is to continue with the request for the soft loan for the original US $75 million and ask them for a grant for the difference, which we anticipate is $25 million, to upgrade the structure to a category 5-plus structure,” he had said at the time.
One possibility being examined in the event of non-support from Holland is adjusting the original rectangular structure, he had said. Lee had said also that authorities had been speaking to other financiers as well, with the possibility of splitting the proposed loan between Social Health Insurances SZV and General Pension Fund Administrator APS and bringing in a third party to reduce their exposure or their need for cash. SZV has been heavily affected by Hurricane Irma with the number of business closures, he said.
