Leader of the Opposition, Lennox Linton has called on the government to refrain from being biased and afford necessary solutions to all constituencies.
“You cannot continue to be focusing attention on the constituencies that voted for Labour,” he said, in Parliament on Wednesday, in his response to the 2016/2017 budget which was presented on Tuesday.
In light of the recent closure of the Marigot Hospital due to an infestation of mold and fungus, he claimed that in the budget estimate for this year, “the government provides for the design and preparation work at the Marigot Hospital $300,000. And then it says it will also spend $1.2-million on retrofitting the temporary accommodation for the Marigot Hospital.”
However, Linton said that the government has “neglected and abandoned” the Marigot Hospital, and insisted that “at least $3-million” will be needed for proper rehabilitation of the institution, and another $15-million for the construction of a new hospital facility.
The MP also stated that “not one cent was spent” of the money in the 2014/2015 budget which was allocated for the rehabilitation of the Marigot Hospital was spent accordingly.
He referred to this as one of the Dominica Labour Party’s (DLP) “attempts to fool the people.”
Linton went on to say that in December 2015, Health Minister, Kenneth Darroux presented him with plans for a new hospital in the northern constituency, including a steering committee, three proposed sites by the district health team, and designs.
During the presentation of the 2016/2017, on Tuesday, at the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit, announced that “designs for the Marigot Hospital will be formulated.”
The Marigot Hospital was previously shut down, in 2014, because of a severe termite infestation.
In June 2016, Health Minister, Dr. Kenneth Darroux stated that he did not want to turn the problems at the Marigot Hospital into a political issue, and expressed the DLP’s commitment to building a new hospital in Marigot.
Darroux stated that $1-million is allocated for the renovation of the present building.
Lennox lives in a fantasy world. He may have forgotten there was a storm that destroyed most of the Islands infrastructure last year. ASk him how much money he has risen for the Marigot community? Ask him how many businesses he has helped to open in Marigot? Ask him of often he has intelligent non accusatory dialogue with ministers of the ruling party which in any government would help facilitate funding to help his constituency?
If its your constituency and you are the leader of the opposition its your responsibility!
I often wonder when will there be unbiased discussion to an issue that is so critical to the critical to the development of the country. Having spent millions of dollars to upgrade the lone “airport” in the country, it would have been sensible to upgrade the only medical facility within the “airport’s” environs – just in case of an emergency.
Besides, it is increasingly difficult to understand how a government could allow a medical facility to reach such deplorable conditions. Isn’t it embarrassing that the facility was shut down because of mold infestation? Who conducted the maintenance of the facility?
The government is responsible for the health and welfare of its citizens and that care is paid for by the taxes paid to the government. How then is Lennox or Skerrit responsible for that undertaking? The government is responsible and since Skerrit is the Prime Minister, his government is responsible. Not sure how this could be viewed otherwise.
“Linton said te Marigot hospital has been neglected by the government” .
Isn,t it obvious from the picture that the building / hospital has been neglected?
Why mention Linton’s name? Any child can see that the building has been neglected?
From the pic above, Could Lennox explain to the public what part of the hospital is that?
Would it make a difference??
You are a manicou for real!
KID ON THE BLACK,
I am an ordinary lay person and I can see that it is a toilet bowl so what part of a house that is having a toilet bowl?
LINTON is trying had to save D/c from all U master but U and your masters a trying had to get rid of him, but who LAUGH last laugh the BEST