San Pedro Hospital Costs Spiral Over Budget

The new San Pedro Hospital, funded largely through a Taiwanese grant, has run into significant cost overruns, and Prime Minister John Briceño is acknowledging the problem openly while stopping short of confirming just how large the gap has grown.

Reports have put the overrun figure at around 15 million dollars. Briceño said simply that costs have climbed across the board in construction. “A few months ago, that sand, I think like $850. I know it’s at $1,700. Everything has been going up. I mean, you don’t need to be a genius to know that,” he said.

The bigger question now is who pays the difference. The hospital was built on the back of a Taiwanese grant, meaning the original price tag was covered by Belize’s diplomatic ally. But with costs having ballooned beyond what was originally agreed, the government is now heading into conversations with Taiwan to work out a split.

“It’s something that we will sit down with the Taiwanese and see what they’re prepared to help and whatever the shortfall, obviously the government will have to pay,” Briceño said.