Hospital project has become a 'Mary Celeste' in election campaign, pressure group claims - Jersey Evening Post
by Fiona Potigny · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
Hospital project has become a ‘Mary Celeste’ in election campaign, pressure group claims
by Fiona Potigny 5 June 20264 June 2026
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A GROUP campaigning for Jersey’s new hospital has accused election candidates of largely ignoring healthcare and the future of the Overdale project.
Friends of Our New Hospital said health had become Jersey’s own “Mary Celeste” – a ship drifting without direction – amid what it described as an “extraordinary political silence” during the election campaign.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, the group’s chair, Mary Venturini, questioned why healthcare had featured so little in candidates’ manifestos and campaign messaging.
According to the group’s own analysis, fewer than a quarter of the Island’s 92 election candidates had mentioned healthcare or the hospital project in their manifestos.
“The subject of health has drifted into an extraordinary political silence during the campaign,” she said.
“The delay in the Hospital contract has hardly been mentioned by candidates. Health and Care Jersey is now the largest government ministry both in terms of staff and expenditure but there has been no discussion about its future. Are we really more interested in discount supermarkets than in the Island’s health?”
Are we really more interested in discount supermarkets than in the Island’s health?
Mary Venturini, Friends of Our New Hospital
Negotiations over the hospital main works contract are still ongoing with preferred contractor Bouygues UK.
Health Minister Tom Binet previously stated he would not sign off the deal until he is satisfied it represents a “fair, balanced and sustainable agreement” and delivers appropriate value for taxpayers.
“If the hospital contract is not signed before the 7 of June, we will have to await the formation of a new government and the summer recess,” Ms Venturini said.
“A new Health Minister will then have to address the contract issues along with other shortcomings in Healthcare. Our very own ‘Mary Celeste’ drifts on.”
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