Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, January 23rd 2012 -
I wish to make the
following statement in response to remarks made by Prime Minister Ingraham at
the opening ceremony of the Rand Hospital extension of Wednesday 18th January
2012 during which he referenced “the lack of performance of the Minister of
Health who lives in Freeport and served in the Christie Cabinet”.
The Prime Minister
referred to the Dorsett Report and the absence of any action by the said
Minister.
The following facts
were not forthcoming from the Prime Minister namely:
1. The Dorsett
Consulting firm recommended along with other business, civic and social
partners that the preferred action would be to construct a new green site
hospital in Freeport because the existing facility was aged and inadequate for
the anticipated growth of Freeport and Grand Bahama, and did not possess the
land for adequate growth at its present site in the downtown area.
2. The Public Hospital
Authority (PHA) on my instructions proceeded to initiate and concluded
discussions with the Grand Bahama Port Authority for the acquisition of a new
green site for the construction of a new hospital to replace the existing Rand
Hospital.
The site identified
was a 30acre area off Sergeant Major Road adjacent to the Jack Hayward High
School.
3. Mr. Ingraham on
assuming the reins of government in 2007 was reported to have said that the
construction of a new hospital in Freeport was not a priority of his
Administration and that he would concentrate his efforts on the Princess
Margaret Hospital in Nassau.
4. Hence the
preparation for the development of a new modern hospital in Grand Bahama was
shelved by the FNM administration which then proceeded to step backwards and
focus on a partial redevelopment of the existing structure.
Mr. Ingraham is being
disingenuous and deceitful in his statement that “the Christie Administration
left no footprints in Grand Bahama”.
1. I invite Mr.
Ingraham to view the Eight Mile Rock Clinic which his earlier administration
was unable to complete but was completed and opened during the Christie
Administration and regional ambulance service was provided to the West Grand
Bahama communities
2. Mr. Ingraham needs
to travel to East End Grand Bahama to view the Solid Waste transfer depot
facility developed and opened during the Christie Administration. This facility
has enhanced the environment in East Grand Bahama by eliminating indiscriminate
dumping.
3.Mr. Ingraham needs
to visit the multiple public health clinics in Grand Bahama to view the
upgraded and renovated status that took place during the Christie
Administration following 10 years of neglect during his earlier administration
(1992-2002).
4. Mr Ingraham needs
to interview the many nurses that were trained during the Christie
Administration and are working in our healthcare network throughout the
Bahamas.
5. Mr Ingraham needs
to return to the Rand Hospital to view the upgraded Xray facility including the
CAT scan centre and the ICU facility, and the improved patient and
administrative information management systems in place both at the Rand and
Princess Margaret Hospitals.
I trust that Mr.
Ingraham will take time during his electioneering to speak “the whole truth even
though it may be an inconvenient truth” and avoid rhetoric that demeans himself
and the country he wishes to lead.