BASSETERRE , ST. KITTS ( JULY 19TH 2004 ) – Construction of the EC$15 million International School of Nursing in St. Kitts has begun.
According to Principal of Williams Architectural, Mr. Victor Williams, who has been commissioned by Dr. Robert Ross, to spearhead the construction, earthworks to cut the land to the required levels are being carried out by Elco Limited.
Three general contractors will be on site simultaneously during the construction phase. One will implement all site work and site infrastructure and the other two will each construct one of the two steel-framed buildings.
“We will ensure the full participation of the local companies,” Williams told the Communications Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.
Mr. Williams said Phase One of this facility is expected to open its doors to students during the first week of January 2005.
“This phase includes the construction of four buildings to provide for the administration offices, class rooms capable of accommodating 150 students, library, auditorium, skills labs, book store, and restrooms. Support buildings will facilitate mechanical, maintenance building and guard room,” said Williams. All ancillary services including a parking area to accommodate 150 cars with the capability to expand to 450 vehicles will be constructed.
The establishment of the International School of Nursing is expected to bring benefits for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis with enormous employment opportunities and training for local students is evidence of investor confidence in the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis .
He said the establishment of the International University of Nursing “will increase the continued generation of new businesses, because the students have to buy, they have to live, they have to eat and so enormous business activity will be generated from this initiative. Residents will also be able to provide accommodation for the scores of overseas students.
The International School of Nursing will also provide two scholarships annually which will cover the cost of tuition, books and equipment and after consultation with government, boarding, lodging and food when the students have to travel to the United States to complete the nursing programme.
The International School of Nursing will be offering degrees in associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees in nursing. Under the agreement, the International University of Nursing has an obligation to increase its enrollment to 1500 students.
St. Kitts beat out several Caribbean countries as the site for the nursing university in the Caribbean that will train hundreds of nurses from the United States , the Caribbean , Central America , South America , Eastern Europe , the Far East and Africa .
Nursing students will spend three semesters in St. Kitts. After completing the three semesters they will go to the United States and complete another two semesters of clinical rotation. Successful candidates will obtain an associate Registered Nurse.
The new venture will not only resolve an issue confronting the international health center in the provision of professionally trained nurses and adequate nursing care, but will also impact the local nursing profession.
