The New Today
Jun 15, 2024
Damian Dolland appointed lead consultant for new hospital project (Project Polaris)
The Congress Government in Grenada has appointed Damien Dolland, a prominent international consultant, of Grenadian descent, as the lead consultant for the new hospital project management team.
Dolland, who is the founder of the USA-based Darisami Group and co-founder of Trocar Pharma Inc., brings extensive experience in corporate finance and advisory services to the project.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell announced Dolland’s appointment during a Town Hall meeting Monday night in St Patrick to celebrate the second anniversary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning the June 2022 General Elections.
The new appointee is a nephew of businessman Hugh Dolland and cousin of Randall Dolland, Chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA). He reportedly has a strong background in investment banking and advisory services across Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
Dolland’s expertise was previously showcased when he formed part of Prime Minister Mitchell’s delegation to the inaugural Caricom-Saudi Arabia Summit in November 2023, an event aimed at strengthening ties and promoting trade and investment relations between Saudi Arabia and Caricom.
The new hospital project, which has been branded as “Project Polaris,” aims to construct a research and teaching hospital in Grenada, a key recommendation in the 2035 National Development Plan.
The other members of the project management team include Richard Duncan, Andrea St Bernard, Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, with assistance from the Tony Blair Institute.
“This group has been meeting every week to advance the project,” said the Prime Minister, noting that the success of the project would require a lot of “in-depth planning. He told the persons attending the session that the team met recently with John Hopkins University, and has also held discussions with Mt Sinai hospital regarding potential partnerships going forward.
The government is also looking at plans to engage an international partner to manage and operate the new hospital facility. According to the Grenadian leader, this partner will be expected to work with the government to address current challenges in Grenada’s medical system.
Approximately one year ago the government announced the acquisition of 84 acres of land in the Calivigny/Westerhall area to build the Modern-State-of-the-art facility. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has also pointed out that only a few acres will be used for the hospital itself, while the remaining land will support the development of a medical or health village, fostering economic activities around the hospital.