MANDEVILLE, Jamaica – World-renowned investor and Head of AIC International Michael Lee-Chin is to build a J$155 million nursing school at the Seventh-day Adventist-owned Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica.
The nursing school, which is to be named the Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing, is to cost approximately $90 million to construct, with an additional $65 million worth of equipment.
The announcement came at a press conference held at the institution’s Mandeville campus, on Thursday, September 7, 2006.
The 21 square foot property, which will be built on lands across from NCU’s main campus, is expected to accommodate some 800 nursing students. The new facility will see a 100 percent increase in enrollment capacity for NCU which currently enrolls some 400 nursing students.
Speaking to reporters at the press conference held at the institution’s gym, Mr. Lee-Chin said he chose to invest in a nursing school “because Jamaica’s nurses are world renowned, because it’s a practical course which leads to support both locally and overseas, because our nurses can be trained for export and will send back remittances to Jamaica.”
L-R Michael Lee-Chin, NCU President Dr. Herbert Thompson, Prime Minister Hon Portia Simpson Miller at press conference
Calling on Jamaicans to build the country town by town, Mr. Lee-Chin said his aim was to build on the foundation NCU has set to make Mandeville a university town. “Mandeville is perfect because the foundation is already here and is being stewarded by a leader of vision…this gift is a step on the foundation made 87 years ago.”
Commenting on the need for nurses worldwide, NCU President Dr. Herbert Thompson said “education institutions have to become aware that you have to contribute to the pool of persons, some of whom will stay and some of whom will go. That they are in demand abroad is an indication that the quality of our preparation is of a very high standard.”
Construction on the multi-million dollar nursing school is expected to begin in another three months, and the project is expected to be completed in just over a year.
With just over 400 nursing students currently enrolled at the institution, NCU has one of the largest nursing programmes in the region. The institution started its Bachelor of Arts programme in nursing, in 1970, just under 40 years ago.
