Dar Al Omran International Engineering Consulting Company (DAO) signs contract to design, build University Hospital in Belmopan

Published by BBNTEAM at December 10, 2024

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Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 2024. 7:47 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Amid controversy over its location, the Dar Al Omran International Engineering Consulting Company of Saudi Arabia this morning participated in a contract signing for the design and supervision of a tertiary-level teaching hospital in Belmopan.

Signing on behalf of the Government of Belize were Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and DAO general manager Yacoub Shubeilat.

In brief remarks provided by the Government Press Office, Minister of Health Kevin Bernard, who was also present, stated, “This is a true commitment to the people of Belize in improving healthcare and I am appreciative of the fact that we were able to reach this stage today…This will add to the services that we now offer and bring benefits in providing quality access to health care.”

Bernard also noted that this will be Belize’s second tertiary-level facility, following the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, though there are plans to eventually build a second hospital on Belize City’s Southside.

A Government press release states that DAO will be paid $3,269,962.54 for consultancy services to provide complete design and construction supervision services for the construction of a 150-bed hospital that will meet the standards and requirements of the Government of Belize and the Saudi Fund for Development. This includes architectural and engineering design; supervision of layout, construction and landscaping; and ensuring that design and construction is in accordance with required standards and specifications. The consultancy runs for 55 months, including development and approval of the design, and associated services – 9 months; Supervision of construction – Period of construction 34 months; and Defects/Liabilities period – 12 months.

Shubeilat and Director Ghassan Rachid met with Minister Bernard, his CEO and directorate of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and as well the Minstry’s Belmopan Hospital Project Technical Team, visited the proposed site, and participated in a workshop with the teams from the Ministry and the Central Executing Unit, with whom they will be working closely on the project.

DAO’s Technical and Financial proposal was ranked at the top of the 5 Saudi firms that applied for the consultancy. It boasts over 43 years of experience in the industry and specializes in healthcare infrastructure, delivering more than six thousand hospital beds and 2 million square meters of built-up area covering projects in more than 20 countries and has worked with the Saudi Fund before.

A majority of member unions of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize have voted to start legal action against the Government over the purchase of land valued at $610,000 to build the future University Hospital for $6.9 million. The Government has defended the purchase on the basis of the land being better located than the parcel offered by the University of Belize, which earlier this year opened a School of Medicine which will be staffing the hospital.

The Saudi Fund loaned Belize $90 million to pursue the project in May of 2023.

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