500 people working on hospital building

The workforce currently employed on the new hospital project has topped the 500 mark, it was revealed yesterday.

Hospital bosses said that Bermudians and their spouses had made up more than 60 per cent of that workforce since work on the King Edward Memorial Redevelopment project began.

The Point Finger Road site, which is Bermuda’s largest ever construction project, broke ground in January 2011 and should be completed next year.

Bermuda Hospitals Board president and CEO Venetta Symonds said: “We are pleased to again report the positive effect this necessary development is having on our Bermuda community.

Importance

“We recognise the importance this has meant for many families during this unexpected downturn in our economy. In July we reported over one-million man hours had been completed.

“Now, just three months later, we can reveal that more Bermudians are on the site and that peak numbers of about 550 workers are expected to be reached in the upcoming weeks.”

At present a huge range of specialists including carpenters, drywallers, ceiling fixers, painters, steel workers, welders, window installers and scaffolders are working at the Paget site.

BHB Redevelopment Director James Campbell said: “We are pleased with the progress and quality of building work.

“We pay careful attention to ensure the construction is meeting the prescribed international standards.

“It is our intention to provide the island with a premier facility that enables the highest quality of healthcare to be afforded to the community.”