Delmaude Ryan – Minister Health, Education…
There has been much debate over the question of whether the ‘hospital project’ was cancelled or whether it has been cancelled or in the end whether there was ever a project. This matter has made its rounds at the highest level in the Legislative Assembly with questions and answers and now more recently in the 2015/16 budget debate.
On the matter of whether there was a hospital project which is how the Minister of Health Delmaude Ryan has contended, “there was no hospital project,” the Hon. Opposition Leader speaking after his colleague and former Minister, in his budget debate presentation said: “I agree with the hon. Minister for Education and Health and Community Services. There was no hospital project. She is absolutely correct. But there was a program and a program encapsulates several projects.”
Most expressed difficulty with his later presentation on the issue having said that, as he referenced a letter written to the Minister by DFID, which basically said that following discussions between them and the Minister, the agreement was to move forward as follows:
- “DFID will close the MHHCIP programme by the end of February” (which according to the former Premier encapuslates several projects)
- DFID will transfer £1m into the 2015-16 budget aid settlement – ring fenced for the ongoing healthcare elements and hospital equipment. (considered to be quite an achievement by the newcomers)
- DFID and GoM to agree by the indicator/targets for inclusion in the budget aid logframe.
- John Bowker will continue lead DFID’s engagement on developing a business case for DFID’s investment in a new hospital. (this the Minister says will be done by June).
Glendon Hospital
The Opposition Leader Meade at the end of a long explanation which seemed to do nothing more than support the case put forward over and over by the Minister, was then critical of her acceptance of the one million pounds, at the same time referring to his love for alcohol. “…in East Kilbride. I don’t know if he (the Premier) was at the meeting. Unlike me, he don’t drink so I can’t say he was drunk but maybe he was sleeping when his Minister for Health, as Minister for Economic Development and Finance allow the Minister for Health to turn down a project (hospital project) and take £1 million in exchange for it,” he said, misrepresenting the letter he had just read. The letter noted: “Given that the major element of the project – the Glendon Hospital refurbishment – has been identified as no longer viable due to some buildings no longer being fit for refurbishment, you agreed with the DFID recommendation that this project should be closed.“ That being so with the project going forward as shown above.
The Minister speaking recently before the budget presentation had emphasized: “We have agreed to go along with a hospital that is in the best interest and value for money for the government of Montserrat, the specifications of the design to allow it to be reduced to $40 million with no less than the current number of beds that exist – 30 beds at 40 million,” she informed.
She at the same time as always explained: “We had to suspend the current project of the renovated or remodeled hospital as well as the soft component in order to accommodate a new project…and a hospital that we can maintain in the future. We are expected now to have the new project, and there will be a hospital for the people of Montserrat.”
But even before the Minister had visited DFID in East Kilbride new DFID local representative Martin Dawson had briefly, at a Governor’s press conference responded to the concerns from the public that the hospital project had been cancelled. “…a program of support from DFID for what was originally designed as the refurbishment of the existing Glendon hospital, for a variety of reasons that seem to take quite a long time to even get approved and work started…as a result of our annual review process undertaken these last couple of weeks and various things, obviously with the new Government as well, and various things moving on and changes wishing to be considered and proposals perhaps rather than looking at refurbishment to the existing facilities perhaps to consider some sort of new build which obviously is very different to the original design….”
The DFID rep further informed of the process continuing at that time in November last year telling us that the discussions will be further taken forward with the Premier in East Kilbride, “…bearing in mind there is the other side, that is the health sector issues that also need to be addressed, so there has certainly been no stopping of any current and it’s just a re-evaluation, revamp and consideration given to what is the best process in taking this forward and further discussions to be had on that.”
When we sought clarification, Dawson said, “It took rather a long time for this program and I don’t know the reasons why …..so I think when those costings were originally done maybe two or three years ago, undoubtedly they became pretty out of date by the time we got to the situation we currently face.”
Since then the Minister Delmaude Ryan has been trying to explain in answer to various questions on the hospital status. The letter to her captured the situation, which as seen above there were already issues on the table for some time even before it came hers to settle.
ly meet out requirements what we consider is appropriate, so that process is ongoing now.
