St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock has confirmed holding substantive talks with Taiwanese officials regarding significant construction delays plaguing the Arnos Vale hospital project, a major infrastructure initiative funded through Taiwanese financial assistance. The high-level discussions occurred during Leacock’s official diplomatic visit to Taipei last week.
Addressing the media in Kingstown upon his return, Deputy PM Leacock revealed the project is now approximately twelve months behind its original completion schedule. The delay has worsened since his New Democratic Party (NDP) assumed governance in November 2025, at which point the project was already eight months behind.
The hospital’s development is financed by a substantial US$125 million loan agreement secured from Taiwan in 2024 by the preceding Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration. A significant portion of these funds, approximately US$78 million, was specifically allocated for the medical facility’s construction.
Initially conceptualized as a 134-bed acute referral hospital, the project was awarded to Overseas Engineering & Construction Co. (OECC), a Taiwanese construction firm. The groundbreaking ceremony in October 2024 set an ambitious 32-month completion timeline. While the ULP government planned to retain maternity and pediatric services at Kingstown’s Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, the current NDP government has committed to integrating these specialized wards into the new Arnos Vale facility, effectively transforming it into a comprehensive general hospital.
During the Taipei meetings, Leacock’s delegation engaged with Taiwan’s Department for Overseas Investment Development Corporation, a government-backed entity specializing in international infrastructure development and economic cooperation. The department, through its subsidiary OECC, plays a pivotal role in executing infrastructure projects within Taiwan’s diplomatic partner nations.
The Deputy Prime Minister characterized the dialogue as “frank but fruitful,” emphasizing both parties reached a clear mutual understanding regarding project perspectives and the NDP government’s unwavering commitment to delivering a cutting-edge medical facility to the Vincentian populace. The goal remains completion as close to, or even ahead of, the adjusted timeline.
While withholding specific details, Leacock confirmed his participation in critical meetings involving health ministry officials, project consultants, and the construction contractors. He stressed the government forcefully communicated the necessity of resolving all outstanding issues to eliminate delays and expedite progress. The urgency stems not merely from political sensitivity but from the fundamental right of citizens to access affordable, available, and modern healthcare infrastructure.
Taiwanese consultants acknowledged certain challenges and are expected to visit St. Vincent shortly for continued discussions with the Health Minister and Prime Minister to address pressing project urgencies. Leacock’s delegation included key government figures, underscoring the mission’s importance: Shevern John, Minister of Social Welfare and Community Empowerment; Lavern King, Minister of State for Education and Digital Transformation; and the Deputy PM’s wife, Margaret Leacock.