His Excellency Amino C. Y. Chi, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, visited San Pedro on September 18th to review construction progress at the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital. Belize Rural South Area Representative Honorable Andre Perez hosted the visit and accompanied Ambassador Chi on a tour of the project.
The visit focused on the hospital’s construction progress and Taiwan’s continued support for the development. Perez said Ambassador Chi has shown strong interest in the project, which is being funded through a major grant from the Republic of China (Taiwan). During the tour, officials inspected the construction site and received an update on the work completed so far.
According to Perez, the hospital is approximately 70% complete. If construction continues as planned, the facility could be completed between late April and mid-May 2027. The hospital is expected to serve residents of both San Pedro and Caye Caulker, providing greater access to medical services without the need to travel to mainland Belize.
Perez described the project as historic for the island communities. “That is one of those major grants that our friends from Taiwan have donated, and it’s something special and historic for a community,” he said.
He added that technical experts from the Ministry of Health estimate the facility could employ between 250 and 275 permanent workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and technicians. “We’re very excited. I’m excited,” Perez said.
The San Pedro Town Council also reported that construction remains on track and expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The hospital project stems from a cooperation agreement signed between the governments of Belize and Taiwan in January 2023. The initiative was developed to address the growing demand for healthcare services in San Pedro and Caye Caulker, where residents have traditionally had to travel to the mainland for many hospital services.
In February 2024, the Government of Belize signed a US$16.68 million contract with the Taiwan Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC) to design, construct, and equip the new hospital. The project is being financed through a grant from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Prime Minister Honorable John Briceño later joined local officials for the groundbreaking of the 45-bed hospital, marking the official start of construction.
The Government of Belize has said the new facility is intended to improve access to healthcare for residents of both islands while also strengthening medical services in one of the country’s most important tourism destinations.
Once completed, the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital is expected to become one of the country’s largest medical facilities after the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The facility is also expected to create new jobs while significantly expanding healthcare services for island residents.