Says lab part of country foundation
Minister Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Minister Hon. Maurice Lake on Wednesday met with the board of St. Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) for the signing of 1700M2 of government land for the local institution that provides a host of services to the St. Maarten community.
Minister Lake expressed his elation in being able to once again give land on behalf of government to an important entity in our community in long lease. The minister indicated that although he had received a number of requests for the same piece of property, he believed in giving the land to entities such as SLS which would have a bigger impact on the community.
"It’s all about going back to basics. In order to build country Sint Maarten, we have to start from the foundation and build upward. SLS is a St. Maarten home-grown institution that provides essential services, to the public health sector, and is part of the country’s foundation. If we want a strong St. Maarten nation, our institutions have to be at the forefront of that nation-building process," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Wednesday.
The location of the government leased land is ideal for the lab because it is near the hospital, and because of that very convenient for their clients and the patients of the hospital.
The director of SLS, Hose Booi, indicated that the lab was very pleased to receive the government land in long lease as it would afford them the opportunity to have their own building and not have to pay rent anymore.
SLS has already spoken to their bankers about how much they can borrow and have already had Independent Consulting Engineers draft preliminary drawings of what they want to construct on the land.
SLS is looking at constructing a two level structure that will allow the lab to grow into the future where they will be able to offer more services such as pathology etc. In the mean time they could always rent out a part of their facilities that is not needed immediately for their future expansion.
Minister Hon. Maurice Lake lauded the SLS organization and in particular the board for being the first organization that requested government land to come with an architect and their bank ready to start construction of their new building.
The chairman of the SLS board, Ravi Daryanani, thanked the minister on behalf of the board and said that he was looking forward to the day they don’t have to pay anymore rent anymore and can put that money back into services for its clients.
Present for the signing was Derrick Downes, Managing Director of Windward Islands Bank, Ron Daal of Independent Consulting Engineers, Hose Booi, SLS Managing Director, Ravi Daryanani, Chairman of the Board, Perry Wilson, board member and Dr. Offringa.
The land is located behind the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Cay Hill.
PHOTO CUTLINE: L to R, Derrick Downes, Hose Booi, Minister Hon. Maurice Lake, Ravi Daryanani, Dr. Offringa, Perry Wilson and Ron Daal. Photo DCOMM