– August 12, 2016
“An aggressive communications strategy in which we engage all our stakeholders. Government of Montserrat, the opposition, NGOs, academia, the media, professionals, donor agencies, the diaspora. It is important that we get all people, all persons involved in understanding this. We want to engage the population at every step of the way what our finding is, what our recommendations are, so that we will get feedback.” That was Terron Gilchrist, Montserrat’s Director of Hospital Services
It was in fact encouraging to learn that whoever made up the panel of site searchers listened firstly to the strong but few voices who decried the thought of constructing a hospital in Little Bay. Surely this could not have been the area that is very much the center or a big part of the ‘ambitious’ and later referred to as ‘the fairy tale’ strategy for Montserrat’s future development. Jus wonderin if what we might be saying here, that the dream may not have been too far off, just ambitious, suggesting that except for the corrupted mind, sensible modifications and negotiations, supported by the benefactors and
Bennette Roach, Editor
sponsors, might have given the country the five years they needed through to 2020 for the dream to become reality.
Not necessarily in contrast, but also interesting is the fact that the site that is being considered as the preferred site, was not in the minds of the panel or board of persons who were entrusted with the high honour of finding or choosing the site. We asked the Governor who these people are that make-up the various committees that discuss, select and nominate regarding many important and interesting matters in the Island. These are usually top heavy with public servants if not consist of all civil servants. While disrespect has been shown the private sector, quite often deserved, its absence as well as ‘John Public’ however it is constituted, is the cause why so many projects seem never to reach completion or takes an inordinate time to culminate or come to fruition.
A few questions surface when we think of what it must entail to build a hospital, where a good percentage of public servants never see themselves, either having to go to, or spend time in a Montserrat hospital. Knowing that there was a plan for a hospital, whether it was upgrading the existing, or new, was that plan considered when selecting the site, or was this a brand new plan? Then we hope that parking played its major role in deciding the site.
It was also encouraging to hear that the media was considered as part of those bodies who would be invited to be among the stakeholders to be engaged in consultations. Several years ago media representatives were invited to inform and discuss whether residents would be in a position to meet the charges that were likely to be charged if Montserrat had to repay some part of the construct of the hospital along with its upkeep.
Every time the matter of any situation surfaces that involves a consultant, there is the general concern of, not whether their findings are pertinent or even relevant to the matter, but often who it is and how much they are being paid. Maybe the reason for this is because it is perceived the consultations are useless, an expected outcome because the findings must be skewed of the truth the result of the bad culture of not providing honest or all the information sought. A good consultant reports his findings and conclusions on the information he, she or they receive.
Noting that identification of the site came after the economic appraisal, it was possible that these people were all technicians of one kind or another. But as the Governor once agreed, there are often brighter, smarter capacity outside the public service.
