Today I gate-crashed the ceremonial ground breaking for Placencia’s new polyclinic being constructed next to the airstrip. This is BIG exciting news you guys! The peninsula has been lacking a proper medical facility for far too long so this project is immensely important and it’s great to see it getting the attention it deserves. The GOB’s press office was there and a bunch of heavy hitters turned out to speak: the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Youth Sports and Transport (who is apparently our area representative, I really need to learn more about the GOB and it’s players). Here’s what I gathered:
- This project is long overdue (our Village Council and Rotary Club started planning and fundraising for some sort of Trauma Center back in 2007! Though the need has long been recognized, with so many hurdles and set backs no one has been able to really do anything about it. The former administration had the foresight and ability to secure the land next to the airstrip for critical infrastructure like the clinic and a fire department but it is only now that facilities are going to be built)
- It’s a public and private sector undertaking (estimated to cost 2.486 million dollars, the build is being financed by a “Tourism Development Fund” and it really isn’t any secret that the vast majority of the money came from Norwegian Cruise Line… like 2.1 mil came from Norwegian but once the facility is built it will be run by the Ministry of Health just like any other public health clinic in the country)
- It’s going to be pretty big and fairly modern (over 5,000 square feet, the facility is going to have consult and treatment rooms, a reception and waiting room, a trauma ward, a lab, a pharmacy, and even an asthma bay)
- The location is perfect to serve the peninsula’s visitors and residents better (they’re calling it the Placencia Polyclinic but it is for the whole peninsula- it is for Seine Bight and Maya Beach and Plantation and Riversdale. It is accessible by land AND sea and it is right next to the airstrip if someone needs to be flown out quickly)
- It’s going to be ready soon! (estimated completion is by the end of this calendar year! I’m so excited to see this project progress and I’ll, of course, keep you all apprised on how it proceeds. Just think- by the end of the year RLR could be attending the grand opening ceremony.)
***There was also mention of our municipal pier being repaired in the near future and a proposed project for a welcome center/ house of culture for Seine Bight. It seems that Placencia is finally seeing some of the tourism tax money we contribute cycling back to build up our communities. Here are some pictures:
