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Press Briefing Remarks by Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 29 October 2007 |
Press Briefing Remarks by Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE
Premier’s Conference Room
Monday, 29, October, 2007
1:00p.m.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
I remain committed to my promise to meet with the media regularly and I have decided to meet with you on a monthly basis. We are still working to finalise a schedule for my other ministers as we recognize this is of uttermost importance to keep the channels of communication with the public as open as possible.
Contract Renewal for Mr. Bennett Smith
I will spend the next few minutes updating you on recent developments surrounding the Peebles Hospital expansion.
Government is committed to ensuring that the Territory’s main hospital facility (Peebles Hospital) is developed to provide top quality treatment in a comfortable environment for patients. This is consistent with our vision for health that was outlined in our 2007 Manifesto.
Towards accomplishing our goal, I am pleased to announce that Cabinet has taken a decision to renew the contract for Mr. Bennett Smith as Project Engineer for major projects within the Ministry of Health and Social Development which of course includes the Hospital project. His contract has been renewed for one year, with effect from 1 September, 2007.
Among his duties Mr. Smith will:
Review budget estimates and cost for all major projects within the Ministry of Health and Social Development
Provide assistance to the ministry in the administration of major projects and with the preparation and review of tender documents as may be necessary
And oversee the implementation of the terms of contract for each major project and advise the Minister in a timely manner, of any serious breaches in or impediments to the implementation of such contracts.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Bennett Smith for the work he has done so far on the new Peebles Hospital project. I am also keen to publicly express my gratitude to Mr. Smith for his willingness to be retained as Project Engineer with Government for another year.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I am pleased to report that work on the new hospital has been progressing with the construction of walls within the basement area of the facility well underway.
To date the contractors have begun to lay the concrete slabs over the basement area for the hospital. I am further pleased to report that workmen have already installed the structural steel through the third floor for about 30 percent of the area. The most recent estimates are that 60 percent of the necessary retaining walls have been completed on the project.
As of today (29 October, 2007) some 20 percent of the overall project has been finished.
Track at A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds
I will now give a brief update on the eight-lane rubberised track project at the AO Shirley Recreation Grounds.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I am made a public commitment that this Government will continue with the track at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground and I remain committed to that promise.
I am sure that by now you would have noticed that there are some new activities happening on the track, specifically related to the installing of the rubberised surface. The contractors (MONDO) began this phase about two weeks ago, on 15th October, and I want to thank the members of the public who heeded our calls for them to suspend use of the track while this phase is being completed.
Along with the laying of the rubberised running surface, we are now completing what’s known as the D-Zone areas that would accommodate field events like shot-put, javelin throw, high jump, and hammer-throw, among other field activities related to athletics.
We hope to have this current phase completed by the end of November, this year.
When the current surface laying is completed, we will commence work on renovating the pavilion to include bathroom facilities and concession stands that would form part of this major development project.
I am confident that when completed the eight-lane rubberised track would be a welcome addition, which would further enhance the development of athletics among our young people. I am aware of the great emphasis that is being placed on athletics both regionally and internationally, so I look forward to the completion of this project so that BVIslanders will not be denied the proper facilities for them to train and be competitive in this area.
I continue to ask the public to refrain from using the track for recreational purposes until works have been completed.
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