St. Matthew's Medical University will be building a new campus complex in San Pedro
Town, Ambergris Caye. Prime Minister Said Musa and Area representative Patty Arceo
attended ground-breaking ceremonies at the project site on Coconut Drive Tuesday
afternoon, March 27.

"Clearly, St. Matthews Medical University nets the professional requirement, prime
minister Musa said in his address in which he emphasized the need for government to
pass legislation to screen out sub standard medical institutions from Belize. He also
congratulated the school's staff for their four years of hard work in making the school a
success and for investing in Belize.

"If we are to eliminate poverty, Musa said, "we recognize that good health and education
are key components.

The ground-breaking ceremony coincided with a visit to San Pedro by the Accreditation
commission of the Colleges of Medicine appointed by the Ministry of Health to review St.
Matthews Medical University.

Two leading medical educators of world renown, doctors Jason and Westberg were also
present at the ceremony.

The campus complex will house four lecture halls, a library, two medical laboratories, a
fitness and recreation centre, and a ten-bed hospital which will offer in-patient and
out-patient services. The project is expected to be complete in 18 months.

St. Matthews University opened its doors in Belize in September 1997 with 23 charter
students, all of who will graduate in May 2001. Presently there are seven Belizean
students on scholarship at the university.