Local contractor delivers St. Jude hospital in record time

Published on November 17, 2025

The St. Jude Hospital, which was destroyed by fire September 9th, 2009, over 16 years ago, has been formally handed over to the Minister of Health Moses Jn. Baptiste.

In his address Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre acknowledged that “16 years is a long time, too long for the people of the south” noting at the handover on November 16th, 2025, that “this moment is not just a celebration; It’s a restoration of dignity”. 

He commended the staff at St. Jude “who carried a weight that few can understand” and “‘who despite endless challenges did what heroes do. They adapted, they endured and they cared”.

Parliamentary Representative Dr. Kenny D. Anthony welcomed the handing over pointing out that his decision to establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia may have paid off in an ironic twist of fate which saw the Saudis funding the rehabilitation of St. Jude Hospital.

The contractor Rayneau Gajadhar dressed in traditional Saudi wear acknowledged that he ‘broke all protocols’ to make this moment a reality.

He thanked the Prime Minister for his confidence in the Rayneau Construction and Industrial Products company, his staff and all who collaborated in delivering the hospital, a decade and a half after it was destroyed by fire. Rayneau said the hospital was delivered well ahead of the prescribed four year construction period.

The new St. Jude Hospital has doubled its bed capacity and includes new surgical theatres and improved pediatric care facilities.

The hospital reconstruction effort was made possible through fundraising support of St. Lucians, the governments of Mexico, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.