Debate Over New Hospital Location: A Closer Look at UB vs. Belmopan Site

Over the past week, much talk has been had over the government’s purchase of 15 acres of land to construct the new tertiary hospital in Belmopan. Despite the government’s lengthy explanation, many believe the initial location at the University of Belize’s campus would have been ideal for residents and staff. But, how conducive would it have been for the government to build the hospital at UB? Vejea Alvarez told us more after an exclusive visit to the site with the Minister of Health Kevin Bernard.

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: In recent days the government has faced immense scrutiny over its decision to move the location of the new tertiary level teaching hospital from the University of Belize’s campus to a new location. While several ministers have provided extensive explanations many residents believe the original location would have been more beneficial. But if you ask the Minister of Heath and Wellness the decision was made by experts based on rational thinking from a need to get construction underway and accessibility to major roads and highways. 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “Access would’ve been a problem. You hear complaints that the new proposed site is flood prone, this is worse than that and I think you’re very much aware of how this area can get underwater. Two, if you look behind me because it’s behind us where the proposed location is that was initially being considered but when our people came in and looked at the location it’s obvious that it would not have been the best suitable location for us to build a $90 million dollar facility.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: But how much would it have cost to develop the old location ? And would it have exceeded the $6.9 million dollars spent on the new land along the George Price Highway ? According to Bernard, developing the proposed site would have been more costly and time consuming. 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “Just for road access alone we would have had to invest another six something million dollars. If we are to develop this land it is going to have cost us even far much more money because the nature of this property is not as what we are now proposing. And so I felt that it was important for us to clear the air so that people can understand, the general public can understand where we’re talking about. A lot of people have the notion oh it was a land where UB is located. We are standing here, UB is far away over that side.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Apart from the public scrutiny of the land’s value and terrain many have questioned whether its proximity to sewage treatment ponds will post a challenge for the hospital. Bernard says it’s of no concern because the ponds are not as close as many believe. 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “When you look at Northern Regional Hospital we have leech fields right within the compound of the Northern Regional Hospital, in the western region similarly, so it’s not about whether that …when the technical people, when the construction parts maybe more likely might say you know what we may be able to connect to that as well. So it’s not a decision for me to say that oh because that sewage pond is there we didn’t buy the adequate land. I think that’s a narrative that is just trying to create a different spin on the whole purpose of why we acquired the land we are acquiring. At the end of the day as I said when the construction takes place I am pretty sure it will take all of these factors into place. For now our technical people, the people at the Ministry of Health have said that it is not a matter of concern and we will work around that.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: Another question being raised is why the ministry didn’t speak up earlier when the Saudi loan motion was tabled in the House of Representatives in May last year. Bernard says that at that time the ministry didn’t know what portion of the large plot of land UB was carving out. 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “When the decision to build the new hospital, and again the fact that we said we’re gonna build a tertiary teaching hospital at the time I believe that there was not the land was not necessarily identified with UB as yet and that was….it was always the intention for the university for us to team up with the university to build a tertiary teaching hospital but at that specific time the land was not necessarily identified. It was thereafter the discussions started to be had with the University of Belize that we found out that this was the location that they were proposing and the technical people in my ministry said that this will not work, we cannot do the hospital at this location, its not feasible enough and it will not work.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: While the hospital will no loner be built on UB’s campus it will still have unfettered access to the facility.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “The University of Belize will have access through it’s education services for the hospital as a teaching facility and that does not demean anything from the fact that we at the Ministry of Health and Wellness are continuously working, dialoguing with the University of Belize through the Ministry of Education as well where we are making sure that whenever it is ready, whenever that is constructed and that is built the services not only as a teaching facility but the services we provide to the general population that will come from the west and from the south and from the Belmopan surrounding communities as well will be improved delivery of services in healthcare.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: All in all Bernard argues that the new site will be more practical for the hospital’s needs and future expansion given its current infrastructure and accessibility.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “If we were ignorant enough as a ministry, as a minister and a CEO and we would have said you know what lets build the hospital here and not listen to the technocrats the first thing people would say “why didn’t you listen to the technocrats.” “Why didn’t government acquire land better when you bring us in an area look at this just to travel out here onto my left there is no access point here, a dead end. Two to get from here is miles of road you have to travel and it’s not adequate road at this point in time so there is greater benefits of the new location where it’s on the highway, it’s located in a very accessible area where people have access from the west, from the south and from within the Belmopan community.” 

Vejea Alvarez, Love News: The ministry hopes to break ground for construction by year’s end.