The government is shooting down claims on social media and on the internet that Minister for Trade, Energy and Employment and Member of Parliament for the Portsmouth Constituency, was medically evacuated out of Dominica recently.
In a release on Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary, Steve Ferrol said that Douglas left Dominica on Saturday for Cuba for his annual medical check-up.
“Minister Douglas was not medically evacuated as has been suggested by one electronic news outlet. There was no ambulance involved, there was no doctor or nurse who accompanied Minister Douglas. He walked to the aircraft on Saturday which flew directly from Douglas-Charles to Cuba,” he stated.
He stated that the Government of Dominica has an arrangement with Cuba whereby Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and other Parliamentarians would be able to utilize the opportunity to have regular check-ups in Cuba.
“Last week, Minister Douglas was indeed not feeling well and went to the Portsmouth Hospital where he was examined by a doctor. A number of tests were prescribed for the Minister to have undertaken the following day. The Government of Dominica then took a decision to make arrangements for the Minister to travel to Cuba where the tests that began at the Portsmouth Hospital could be completed and then to proceed with a thorough check-up,” the Cabinet Secretary explained.
Rumors were rife on social media within the past few days on Douglas’ condition. Some alleged that he was flown to Martinique for medical treatment due to kidney issues.
when will the lies STOP. i am a member of staff at the PMH and i know better than that. Annual check up my foot!!! people don’t hide illnesses. we all get sick.
Doctors leaving, nurses resigning like it’s raining. The system sucks, ppl can’t get paid for their hard work (there are those that actually work), soon the state hospital will be completed, when u treat your medical professionals like trash I wonder who is gonna fill that big ‘state of the art’ hospital. Do not fear my dear family and friends we will be blessed with many Spanish and Chinese nurses and doctors, I hope the language barrier won’t be s problem. Good luck Dominica
Dominica have jokes. They negotiate for annual check up in Cuba for themselves and the people have to go to a Xray machine that only work when after everj ten passport are sold..
Boy you not easy eh.
I wish Ian a speedy recovery, but my concern lies with the ordinary citizen who lacks such an arrangement with Cuba. What becomes of them, if they encounter any serious illness at home. It’s a shame that we do not have the proper facilities to treat our citizens at home.
lol
best comment ever
Magwesa. PM looking out for parliamentarians to be flown to Cuban for annual check-up while poor Dominicans in critical condition are left to die at PMH. Wicked!
Anti-corruption #1 If so then we will soon have a YES Wecare for annual physicals in Cuba for the whole nation seeing we only have 60k people on island vs Cuba’s 9 million or maybe who knows under the famous unrevealed MOU the entire pop could be airlifted to China for our physicals.Even better we might just have 200 Chinese docs sent to DA & take over our medical facilities. China men everywhere.
Our opposition like our so called Gov’t are hand in hand with our new colonizers. No way out I guess Skerrit drank and even excreating Chinese policy4 DA the opposition, Rasta, even the former diplomat drank the Chinese soft drink/Soda too. It could happen like that to a vulnerable people.
First of all let us take time out to pray for the Minister and wish him a speedy recovery. In time of illness people must try to put all politics aside. Have it ever occurred that perhaps the Gov of Dominica worked out a package with the Gov of Cuba for these medical check ups for all the parliamentarians and Ministers at no cost. The members of the opposition may very well be entitled to such package as they a parliamentarians however because a member of the Government utilized it, thats a problem. Stop the hate and pray for the Minister. You never know when this will hit close to home. God Bless…
The most charitable thing that can be said about your comments is that you are naïve.
In a release on Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary, Steve Ferrol said that Douglas left Dominica on Saturday for Cuba for his annual medical check-up……
first of all, if the minister was sick everybody would pray for him. we are praying ppl
if he is not sick, as stated by ferrol, why pray for his recovery?????Like Really????
if something so good exists for the opposition as well, why is it not made known publicly???? Like Really??
hahahhahahhahaaaaahhhahaaha,,, look koshonie,,, so skerrit going usa for checkup the rest going Martinique and ian going cuba while the rest of Dominicans going PMH or death hospital
it good so, 5 more years.
So, he HAD To go all the way to Cuba for an “annual check up?’ Yeah, and I have a bridge to sell to you in Denmark. What is going on? Is he OK?
So where is his boy and comrade Dr Darroux, for a diagnosis, Let hope he does not go to the same hospital, and have the save doctor that treated, comrade Chavez and Rosie, They should have fly him to florida
You cannot hide sickness or death. Get well soon Ian.
he is sick. he cannot use our medical services because they are inadequate in every way. nothing else to it.
What is this you mean the medical facilities in Dominica are so bad that the government ministers have to be flown out of DA for treatment? So what about us poor people who can’t afford this luxury do we have to stay in DA and drop dead like flies? What is happening to our medical care? where are the doctors, nurses and all the good medical care? Dominica is going down way down and I don’t know if we can recover from this government. We deserve better than that MR. PM.
Dominicans wake up my people it is time for a change in government, we the people cannot afford to charter a plane to Martinique far less Cuba, we go to the P.M.H to die we cannot even get a breathing treatment for asthma , the man from Portsmouth died cus the hospital did not have breathing treatment so he died such a simple thing while the politician can go over seas to have there babies, and medical check with direct flight, I did not know we had a direct flight to Cuba? book me on the next one please.
The P.M.H. is a very useful facility for reducing the waiting list of ill people in Dominica. They simply pass away, with a certificate that says ” died of natural causes” and the statistics look good.
Something had to be wrong to go on a direct flight to Cuba.
Was it a chartered flight?
since when we have direct flight from Dominica to Cuba.
Man,stop fooling the people you consider fools
Great observation IG Jones should be proud of ur detective work very god girl.
Keep it up.
1. Ian has not been feeling well for about a week
2. Ian was seen and evaluated by a medical doctor in Pmoutn hospital recently
3. Ian did not respond to medication given
4. Results of tests does not look good and requires a second opinion
5. Call it what you want but Ian was Medivaced from Dca to Cuba (final destination)
6. We all need to pray that the second opinion is better news and he continue to get better.
Now I am asking those in authority to take better care of yourselves. Too many ministers seems to be falling sick out of the blue ……….Dca needs prayers because the devil seems to be targeting our leaders for whatever reason.
Get well soon Ian .
Assertive like the rod of Moses
It is the stress brother, the stress working for someone like Roosevelt Skerrit. (…no, you don’t work WITH Roosevelt, you always work FOR him!) At least most people in the same situation with Trump have the luxury of resigning but that option is very limited in Dominica.
smh.. ^^ you have not idea what you talking about. Mr Douglas is doing well. He was treated well at the PH and was basically back to himself before he left. This trip is precautionary, to do a full check up to make sure it was nothing else could be making him sick.
Yes, yes, and Father Christmas does really exist/
Which devil?
What a man sows that is what he reaps.
Too much corruption in high p,aces
Skerro should say, “I will simply say, “You get what you vote for”
Just another spin of the dice and you score either 1- 6, never “0”
I hope is him or his insurance paying for his medical because he received $1000 ec for his health insurance so i hope is not extra tax payers money paying his bill!
don’t worry sean will tell me. hahahahahahah
Please keep a prayer for our MP
Praying for a speedy recovery,and he can returned to Dominica soon.
when sickness affect our people we need to prayer for each other.
please put all the difference aside
and let join hand and prayer for each other.
A true Dominican
clearly they don’t want our prayers cause they are claiming that he is not sick. he went for a checkup remember?so why should we pray for speedy recovery if he is not sick?speedy recovery from what, his checkup?tsk
Ian has to run to Cuba for an annual checkup? Dominica is not able to provide such basic service Ian? Is either there is more to it and as usual all you hiding from the public or you all have absolutely no confidence of our medical professionals, including our medical facilities after almost 20 years labar
Ian in Cuba for annual check up! Where’s the Beef? So low and immature. Who doesn’t need to see.a doctor? Be sure to keep your readers updated when he goes on the toilet. Narrow minded people and gossipers
Because you have a key pad at your disposal you are using it to tanish people. I wish you all the best. What goes around comes around. Grow up pure trash and cow down,
Good luck Mr Douglas!
On another note, I swear if you have hbp, do not come on DNO to read comments. Follow up on the headlines, and get out quick! It may be very unhealthy.
You people are so disgusting and sick, what is the relevance to this story? I hope you or your Mama don’t have to get a checkup. Would you like some body to do that to you? Small minded scumbag!
“In a release on Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary, Steve Ferrol said that Douglas left Dominica on Saturday for Cuba for his annual medical check-up.”
Anybody in Dominica who would believe that would have to be the biggest sucker of the twenty-first century!
Make no mistake about it, there isn’t a single personal alive today who does not have some sort of medical issue, some more severe than others. My point is this, since all the specialists doctors in Dominica are Cubans, and Chines, how come if he simply needs an annual medical evaluation, he goes to Cuba to get it?
Why couldn’t one of the Cuban specialists already in Dominica, do a physical; some blood analysts; if he has a prevailing issue, check it to see if it is progressing, such are what an annual check-up or evaluation is all about!
The fact is the man is sick: He has no confidence in the medical system in Dominica, hence like all the rest “ministers” prefers to go out of Dominica for treatment.
Wait…..A flight directly frm Douglas Charles airport to cuba? So why we can’t organize that for our many students who study in cuba instead of them having to make so many stop off and overnights? Is only for one set…
Wish you well Ian.Wish you a full recovery,and you must leave this MESS DLP.
Boy that is spin. He wasn’t feeling well so he go right Cuba for a “regular” “annual” check up?
Where I be there nuh?
A regular, annual check up but he needed to be airlifted by himself on the plane?
When nothing wrong with people and they going for regular check up, they take a normal flight to wherever…not special airlift.
Them fellas lie to Dominicans so much over the years, its like nothing now…lol
All the best to Hon Douglas. My thoughts are with you, hope you feel better and come back fully rejuvenated and ready for action!
As far as I can recall, some years ago, the Prime Minister said that the government made an arrangement with ministers and other parl reps, (including Linton, Isaac et al) an opportunity to go to Cuba to get medical check ups done and that the government would pay the expenses up to $20,000 in addition to airfare and accommodation. This is public knowledge. Why are we pretending that these things haven’t been in place for some time now?
If so please, quote the relevant regulation, give us chapter and verse and not hearsay please.
Do these guys really proofread their statement. These kinds of communication is in my opinion an insult to the people. Whst is,wrong with speaking the truth and even more disturbing Steve is a Holy Communion guy.
If Steve arecthe rest of cabinet can lie on such a,simple matter what will they not lie about? Diplomatic passport schemes, garbage bin fraud, bid fraud,electoral fraud?
It’s like these guys lie like it is the thing to do.
I would understand if the public was totally unaware but so many people saw Ian at the hospital and then the sudden/rush to Cuba. There is no hiding then
The MP was not rushed to Cuba.. He was in the hospital for a week and he got better. He was not back to 100% but was well on his way there. Out of an abundance of caution he chose to go do his annual checkup to make sure that nothing else was not causing why he got sick. The PM left on his own power, no wheel chair or anything like that, as stated he was feeling very much back to himself. No medical staff of any one like that was need or flew with him.
You say the PM. Ian masquerading as Roosevelt now ,well that would explain a lot.
I appreciate this being cleared up. They have an agreement with a friendly government to provide these yearly check-ups, what is wrong with that? If he was unwell and left unchecked and something terrible happened God forbid, you all will still cry foul on Skerrit. Cannot please allu people they calling Dominicans eh.
There are no scheduled direct flights between Dominica and Cuba. If Ian Douglas used such a service it must have been a private charter hired for this purpose. This is not routine, and certainly not for an annual medical check-up. The government should stop insulting us with such fake news and think we are all simple morons., who believe everything they are fed as gospel. Such foolish behaviour only raises more suspicion, distrust and resentment against our authorities. I don’t know who handles the P.M.’s P.R or is his press officer but it is an amateur and incompetent, whoever it is. God forbid Ian comes back to us in a box, all hell will brake loose.
In the flood in Houston people were rescued in dingi, john boat and anything that can float. There was not always medical or rescue professionals. Fact there is no regularly scheduled flight from Dominica to Cuba. Fact, ian may have a medical problem. Fact if it was not serious he would stay Dominica because the government cannot be providing services to fly to cuba just for a medical checkup when there are Doctors in dominica. If so, why are we allowing citizens to use docs in Dom. while gov going oversea. Is there somthing about our health care you guys scared off. If its an annual check up why could he not pay his own way. Why does an annual check up require a government dicision to get a special fligt. Dominicans must be a population of monkeys. Long story short he was medically evacuated it was just not an emergency evacuation. I wonder why we get educated and do comprehension in school.
I agree with you. Seems like no one has confident in the health care in DA. Many years ago, i receives a call from my mother back home. “daughter, I am actively dying, and none of the hospitals knows what is wrong with me. They are only giving me aspirin and send me back home.” She then explains every thing to me and what is going on. I am a RN in usa and with my brother in guadeloupe, we decided to get my mother to America. Soon as she arrives, complete labs done, and she has thyroid problems. She is under meds now and she is ok. To wrap things up, we need a system to diagnose illness in Dominica than sending people to a neighbor island to know what is wrong. Dominica can never be America, but we need improvement in the health care dept.
Agreed!!!
Why we letting mista dem continue to Lie to us and get away with it nuh!!!
Masquerading an opinion as fact. If government did not say anything about the matter, the critics would have gone to town, as indeed they have already done on the matter, advancing their twisted views and opinions. Government did speak and see what we have. The questions raised seem so logical for the learned and even the not so learned. In similar fashion, atheists question the existence of God. Even non-atheists pose logical questions about the timing for celebrating Christmas. Shepherds out in the field at winter time? Logical and smart too. The government of Dominica has had such an arrangement with Cuba since the days of Pierro when issues surfaced about the health and well being of our leaders.
A government decision for an annual checkup??? Please!!! He will fly there for a paper cut and flu shot also. The point is not whether the government has an agreement or not the point is the lies and disrespect for Dominicans. What is the loint have allbthese Cuban trained Doctors in dominica yet our own Government officials dont go to them instead have the audacity get a plane just to take one man dor an annual checkup. According to the gov he ok. Sot qui papaw. Lies lead to speculations so Ian may have a problem that cannot be handled home. If not this is pure gov abuse.
Resident? You must be the resident mind physician, spin- doctor that is!
Afterwards, Prime Minister Dr Skerrit, will say “There is nothing wrong with PMH”. And all you will drink the Kool-Aid, and even lick the glass.
He is the PM but not a doctor in any sense of the word it’s a dressing to make one feel important and can be obtain thru donations and receiving that logo as a thank you in return that’s why any one such title cannot be addressed as a doctor ever so check the meaning of the word in your dictionary.
The PM doesn’t call himself Dr.Skerrit because he knows better so why do you..
When Ian Douglas returns for the next Neo DLP grand apperances Ian will be asked to go on stage and sing we shall not be moved by U all know who. hahahahaha.
Skerrit Medard D Roosevelt told us DA is not a real country.
He reminds me of Clinton’s ” I did not have sexual relations with this woman.
Tell me Skerro what’s real what’s apparent ?
To our peeps is DA real to you?
So all govt. ministers go once a year for a free medical check-up to Cuba? That is a nonsense story. We can do this at home or if necessary in other Caricom countries like Barbado for example. No, something is seriously wrong with Ian and Skerrit does not want us to know it. Is Ian suffering from accute liver problems for example? We are free to speculate because govt. does not give us the full facts and only reacts when there is a leak and a public outcry, desperately trying damage control, like trying to stop leaks from a colander. A pin-prick country like ours does not need secrets like these.
So who was it who was delivered to Canefield airport by ambulance yesterday morning, coming from the P.M.H. and evacuated by Airawak to Martinique on an aircraft routinely chartered by the Dominica govt. The same aircraft performed a similar service last week wednesday. One does not have to go all the way to Cuba for a routine medical annual check up. That can be carried out perfectly adequately locally, either at the P,M.H., or private laboratory- electronic scanning services. I’m sorry but something does not sound right about this govt. story,
Why couldn’t he go to PMH or the hospital in Portsmouth? Lol
Because their pharmacies ran out of his favourite tipple? Cuba is The place for that!
So he only went for his “regular annual check-up” but his parish priest prayed for him twice during the mass on Sunday, and he had been hospitalized from since Thursday of Friday???…weird……oooooooookkkkkkkkk. Anyway, get well sir.
That is news go and fix checkhall road
hahahhahahaha…You got it right!!..
Why do you all educated men do that to yourselves? With all due respect, you sound so silly in your explanation. First he went for his annual check up. Then he was not feeling well so he was sent to Cuba to have a number of test done. The two cannot be the same as from my experience annual medicals are routine and is done whether you feel ill or not. It’s a shame that people who spend time and money educating themselves allow themselves to be degraded in an effort to protect others.
So what is the difference from what was already being said on social media?
He was not feeling well and taken to Cuba, something he would not have done under normal circumstances.
Whether he walked to the aircraft or was carried, makes no difference.
The question is what happen to poor people like me when I get sick? I guess go PMH and die.
Eh Eh So all of them Ministers made arrangement with Cuba to see doctors there,, EH EH THEY SCARED OF PMH.. SKERRO IS THAT FAIR ?
Of course its’ NOT fair, but what can the little people do? Years ago, my 77 years old grandmother went to PMH because she stepped on a nail. You know she died a few days later? She could have stayed at home and nursed it herself, buts she wanted a tetanus shot, but instead they let her die. They’re spending millions of dollars on that shack of a hospital but send their ministers away for ‘ annual check ups?’ Whatever…HYPOCRITES!
That said, get well sir,
The people of Cuba have struggled against dictatorship and have built a system of FRE HEALTH CARE for its citizens.
But, as the Cabinet Secretary tells us, here comes Skerritt’s DLP Gov’t, in its usual selfish motives, have an arrangement with Cuba, for its Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and other parliamentarians of the DLP Gov’t, for FREE Health Care.
So poor Dominicans are left at the mercies of what obtains at PMH, while a select few of the elites, have the privilege to enjoy the health services of Cuba, free of charge.
Doesn’t that send a message to the majority of Dominicans?. The DLP Ministers have taken $1000.00 for medicals, yet they still enjoy and make things easier for themselves in every way.
To Cuba for ordinary annual check up? whose fools are you Dominicans? Wasn’t Ian just recently hospitalized for some kind of illness? So wasn’t it a precautionary move to go to Cuba for better medical purposes? Why the DECEIT? just speak the Truth,…
Wow!
Look spin!
*thunderous applause*