Above: St Lucia

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The governments of Mexico and Taiwan are supporting the renovation of St Lucia’s St Jude Hospital.

The hospital was devastated in a 2009 fire, following which a request for assistance was made to the government of Taiwan.

St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony received authorization earlier this week to borrow $20 million from Taiwan’s Export-Import Bank for the project, while the government of Mexico will be providing an additional $5 million for the purchase of equipment.

“The $20 million will largely see us through but it is not going to be sufficient,” Anthony said. “There is still going to be a requirement for about US$5 million, which we are now exploring with the Government of Mexico who has agreed to make that sum available largely by allowing us to purchase the imported equipment which the hospital requires.”

The Taiwan loan must be repaid within 20 years, following a grace period of three years, according to St Lucia’s government.

The loan must be repaid in the amount of $206,000 during the grace period.