Blinded by the real issues.
WE CONGRATULATE Dr David Estwick this week for finally coming to the realisation that former Minister of Health Jerome Walcott’s proposal for a new general hospital is the best solution for our tertiary health care needs for the next 40 or so years.
The Democratic Labour Party made light of our plans for a new hospital during the election, but like so many things since then, were it not for plans left behind by us in tourism, energy, agriculture, the environment, health and education, the country would be in an untenable position today. But such is the nature of politics.
Having agreed with our proposal for a new hospital, Dr Estwick must now get the job done. In the foregoing seven months he has made proclamations and promises, issued threats and advice, discovered plots and plans and generally upset everyone from the unions, doctors and nurses, to the Sanitation Service Authority staff and even an overseas medical insurance broker. His ambit has been far and wide. Oh what a change from his first tour of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) when the staff was lined up to greet him with hugs and gift baskets.
Say what you like, there is never a dull moment with the doctor around, particularly when his mouth is open or if he feels he is under fire. Well, welcome to the big boys’ club, doc. Here is where you get to play for keeps. Words hurled across the floor of Parliament from the Opposition benches don’t count for anything now. You have to perform on that side, doc.
We are more than puzzled by a few incongruities. For months now the minister has been vacillating on the way forward for tertiary health care for Barbadians. First there was to be a redevelopment of the QEH. The good doctor was “very shortly” going to present a redevelopment plan for the QEH to Cabinet back in February. Well, we don’t know if the plan was presented, but we have not seen any evidence of its implementation.
In this year’s Estimates in March, $150 million was voted for the QEH when the minister again reminded us that wrong things would be put right. By April he was telling us that no decision had been taken on whether a new hospital would be built. In May he promised that he would open a new ward by monthend to relieve some of the stress on the A&E. We are still waiting on that.
July was notable for the public showdown between the minister and the National Union of Public Workers during the Budget Debate. But it was notable for something else. At Page 49 of the Budget, the Prime Minister said: “In the meantime the Cabinet has agreed to the expansion of the QEH on its present site estimated to cost over $400 million and we have also begun to identify funding for this upgrade and expansion.” The Prime Minister reaffirmed this belief on Brass Tacks Sunday and threw in the Government’s desire to seek private funding from foreign philanthropists and Bajans overseas.
Yet the minister says this week: “The plan is for a new purpose-built facility . . . . Government is selling its shares in the ICB and BNB to raise $200 million for the project and is looking to other sources for funds. Cabinet is to decide very, very, very soon on where the new hospital is to be built.” This would have to mean that Cabinet has already decided that a new hospital is to be built, if all that is left for them to do is to settle on the new site.
So which is it really? Which David are we to believe? Are we getting a new hospital on a new site or are we getting a refurbished QEH? What is really happening here? Who is in charge? What did the Cabinet really decide? There can only be ONE Cabinet decision on this issue.
Barbadians want to know.
3 responses so far ↓
OPPOSITION POLITICS // August 10, 2008 at 11:21 pm |
Leader Of The Opposition Mia Mottley To Meet The Press
Opposition Leader Mia Mottley
Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley will have her chance to interact with Barbados during a press conference scheduled today on Voice of Barbados (VOB) at 11AM. The press conference will be co-moderated by Stetson Babb and Peter Wickham. The BU household applauds the honouring of the commitment by Prime Minister Thompson to meet with the press on a quarterly basis. Press conferences under the previous administration were never taken seriously, journalists were often told to report to Bay Street with very little time to prepare. We urge Prime Minister Thompson to continue down this path, our democracy will be the better for it.
We will not be too harsh on our journalists at this early stage of the process, although they have appeared to be overawed during the previous two press conferences. It is time that our journalists understand that they can be respectful to our leaders and remain true to their profession-they are obligated to ask the hard questions. The inclusion of Peter Wickham in the mix today should create an interesting match-up. Peter Wickham suffered personal attacks by Mottley and the Barbados Labour Party during the last general election, some might say that it got too nasty.
A BU family member submitted the following questions which he dares our journalists to ask the Opposition Leader. After reading the questions we were reminded of that time when David Ellis read from an email during the now famous interview with former tourism Minister Barney Lynch. The email is addressed to Stetson, we believe that Stetson is capable of asking the hard questions despite operating in the same social space as Mottley.
Dear Stetson,
As I will be busy during your show I beg of you to ask the following questions of Ms Mottley for me, I will tune in to the repeat version at midnight to hear her replies. Please separate yourself from your own personal views and inquire of Ms Mottley on the Nation’s behalf and in so doing elevate your standing among the listeners of your radio station, the general public deserve the fairest treatment and you are in a position to deliver this fair treatment, please do so for our sakes and for the sake of those to come.
Can you inquire of Ms Mottley if she is aware with regard to the charges of corruption at the UDC, a Ministry that from all reports was a free for all, and her comments about the much touted 1,2,3 men and fees for contracts arrangements? The facts surrounding the discovery of receipts for rent collected on behalf of UDC by none other than the wife of a former Minister of a cabinet that she sat in, that Minister being Joe Atherley, where these payments never made it to the UDC but the evidence clearly points to rents being paid by tenants to Mrs Atherley but not received at the UDC???
Secondly can she update us on the position with their inquiry prior to elections into the activities of Dr Leo Brewster and his girlfriend at Coastal Commission, a report was laid before them the then gov’t prior to elections and no action was taken, why was this?
Why are we hearing and seeing so many cases of mismanagement at all levels of the Civil Service and gross abuse of office in many PS’s cases?
What is her opinion on the proposal to remove school children from paying bus fares as we are yet to her voice a comment on this very progressive move?
Can she tell us with certainty if she has the support of Mr Hammie Lashley in her role as leader of the opposition as based on his recent series of actions and contributions his stance appears at variance with hers and the party? And what actions has she taken to remedy this situation??
Does she see herself as the one likely to take the BLP into its next election and if yes what then does she see the role of Mr Arthur playing ? As at present there seems to be no love lost between them and even leading into the last election the co-leader mouthings by former Prime Minister Arthur were seen as a measure to undermine her status within the party that certainly seems to have affected her status within and outside of the party?
We encourage members of the BU family to submit questions to BU which they would want to have posed to the leader of the opposition. We know that they all read the blogs!
OPPOSITION POLITICS // August 10, 2008 at 11:22 pm |
Leader Of The Opposition Mia Mottley To Meet The Press
Opposition Leader Mia Mottley
Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley will have her chance to interact with Barbados during a press conference scheduled today on Voice of Barbados (VOB) at 11AM. The press conference will be co-moderated by Stetson Babb and Peter Wickham. The BU household applauds the honouring of the commitment by Prime Minister Thompson to meet with the press on a quarterly basis. Press conferences under the previous administration were never taken seriously, journalists were often told to report to Bay Street with very little time to prepare. We urge Prime Minister Thompson to continue down this path, our democracy will be the better for it.
We will not be too harsh on our journalists at this early stage of the process, although they have appeared to be overawed during the previous two press conferences. It is time that our journalists understand that they can be respectful to our leaders and remain true to their profession-they are obligated to ask the hard questions. The inclusion of Peter Wickham in the mix today should create an interesting match-up. Peter Wickham suffered personal attacks by Mottley and the Barbados Labour Party during the last general election, some might say that it got too nasty.
A BU family member submitted the following questions which he dares our journalists to ask the Opposition Leader. After reading the questions we were reminded of that time when David Ellis read from an email during the now famous interview with former tourism Minister Barney Lynch. The email is addressed to Stetson, we believe that Stetson is capable of asking the hard questions despite operating in the same social space as Mottley.
Dear Stetson,
As I will be busy during your show I beg of you to ask the following questions of Ms Mottley for me, I will tune in to the repeat version at midnight to hear her replies. Please separate yourself from your own personal views and inquire of Ms Mottley on the Nation’s behalf and in so doing elevate your standing among the listeners of your radio station, the general public deserve the fairest treatment and you are in a position to deliver this fair treatment, please do so for our sakes and for the sake of those to come.
Can you inquire of Ms Mottley if she is aware with regard to the charges of corruption at the UDC, a Ministry that from all reports was a free for all, and her comments about the much touted 1,2,3 men and fees for contracts arrangements? The facts surrounding the discovery of receipts for rent collected on behalf of UDC by none other than the wife of a former Minister of a cabinet that she sat in, that Minister being Joe Atherley, where these payments never made it to the UDC but the evidence clearly points to rents being paid by tenants to Mrs Atherley but not received at the UDC???
Secondly can she update us on the position with their inquiry prior to elections into the activities of Dr Leo Brewster and his girlfriend at Coastal Commission, a report was laid before them the then gov’t prior to elections and no action was taken, why was this?
Why are we hearing and seeing so many cases of mismanagement at all levels of the Civil Service and gross abuse of office in many PS’s cases?
What is her opinion on the proposal to remove school children from paying bus fares as we are yet to her voice a comment on this very progressive move?
Can she tell us with certainty if she has the support of Mr Hammie Lashley in her role as leader of the opposition as based on his recent series of actions and contributions his stance appears at variance with hers and the party? And what actions has she taken to remedy this situation??
Does she see herself as the one likely to take the BLP into its next election and if yes what then does she see the role of Mr Arthur playing ? As at present there seems to be no love lost between them and even leading into the last election the co-leader mouthings by former Prime Minister Arthur were seen as a measure to undermine her status within the party that certainly seems to have affected her status within and outside of the party?
We encourage members of the BU family to submit questions to BU which they would want to have posed to the leader of the opposition. We know that they all read the blogs!
waiting impatiently // August 15, 2008 at 5:51 pm |
Will someone please tell me which BLPite manages this site. Why is the tripe above allowed to take up residence here. Surely there must be a limit of accomodation somewhere!