The Ministry of Health and Social Development is pleased to announce that construction of the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda is scheduled to resume this month.

Project Contractor, Mr. James Todman of James Todman Construction Limited explained that the pause in construction was due to unforeseen difficulties encountered in the procurement of steel frames that met the design specifications.

Mr. Todman stated that the next steps would be for his company to erect the steel frame and columns as quickly as possible. “I am looking forward to having the frame up before the year’s end”, he added.

Project Manager in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms. Shaina Smith said the project is now expected to be completed by the summer of 2017.

The Medical Centre is a two storey structure, measuring close to 20,000 square feet. The first floor will include urgent care, pharmacy, x-ray and laboratory services. The second floor will include dentistry and physical therapy services in addition to consultation and examination rooms.

The original contract sum of $5,969,687.39 was increased by $116,690.50 when the scope of works was varied to include additional earth works and other necessary modifications, bringing the total construction cost to $6,086,377.89.

The construction of the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre is an important component of the Government’s national health strategy that seeks to increase access to affordable, high quality health services.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life in the Virgin Islands.

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Note to Editors: Audio and Photographs are attached
Audio Clips:

1. Project Contractor, James Todman of James Todman Construction Limited
2. Project Manager, Shaina Smith

Photo 1 of 3: The Construction Site of the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre in Virgin Gorda (Photo Credit: Adrianna Soverall/GIS)
Photo 2 of 3: The planning team that met on November 2, 2016 on the construction site of the Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre. (Photo Credit: Adrianna Soverall/GIS)
Photo 3 of 3: The steel frame. (Photo Credit: Adrianna Soverall/GIS)