Health Minister Dr. Kenneth Darroux has attempted to clear the air on a United States medical vessel, the Pacific Hope, which is docked in Portsmouth and which has caused some controversy recently.
An official from the ship said on a local radio station recently that the government had ordered them to stop administering medical services on the ship and if they refused they would be arrested.
Many people took to social media to say that the matter was related to a Chinese Navy Medical Ship, the Peace Ark, which is presently Dominica.
But according to Dr. Darroux, said the vessel recently left for the Bahamas (it came to Dominica after Hurricane Maria) to have some repairs done and on its return in August 2018, new services were being offered which the government was unaware of. He said those services were asked to be halted until a list of personnel on the ship was provided.
“The Ministry of Health wasn’t aware that any services were being done or even procedures were being done until a flyer released by them [Pacific Hope] was being circulated in the public and it was brought to our attention,” he explained at a press conference on Monday. “Like any good administrators, we did get in contact with the captain and his crew to let them know that we were not aware that a new set of services were being offered and especially ophthalmology surgeries.”
Dr. Darroux stated the Ministry of Health has not received a list of the personnel on board the ship, while medical interventions were taking place on board.
“We called in the gentleman to let him know that we are awaiting the list before they should proceed,” he remarked.
He said the matter is a very sensitive one.
“We are ruled by rules and regulations and we have the Medical Act in place,” he said.
He explained during the ship’s previous visit after Maria, medical services that were offered went through without a hitch saying it provided the government with the list of personnel.
“The nurses and the doctors, everything went through OK,” he noted. “Of course post-Maria hundreds/thousands of individuals, organizations, would have wanted to assist us and as you know we welcomed each and everybody, each and every organization who signaled their intention to assist in the area of health services.”
He also stated that in addition to offering health services, there was also a crew of engineers and contractors on board the vessel after Maria.
“They helped tremendously…,” he stated. “They did a lot of work on the Cabrits jetty.”
He advised that in the future all necessary information should be provided to his ministry in advance with the details and credentials, “and we will do what we have to in order to facilitate them.”
The vessel is a Dominica registered vessel.
The Pacific Hope is an NGO Faith Based Organization.
This Pacic Hope (IMO no. 8221686) is not regitered in Dominica but the Cook Islands with its home port Aviatu. It may be American managed but its legal owners are PacificHope, also of the Cook Islands
The minister said that we are ruled by rules and regulations. I know he doesn’t believe that but says this because it sounds good. Skerritt does what he wants like agreeing to send our heritage our national birds out of the country in the middle of the night and doesn’t tell the public until the information is leaked. So Darroux, what happened to the rules and regulations. What happened when the Dominica government harboured an international criminal, viz Monfared, were you guys unable to read during that period of time? This move by you to wait until the boat left Dominica before you opened your mouth, and when the Chinese ship was on the horizon, suggests strongly that it’s more anti American posturing. In a two bit country without a properly functioning hospital, there cannot be too much medical help for desperate citizens. You guys are rushing to procure your US visas but don’t be too overconfident because the arm of US law is very long and very powerful .
What if we found out that none of these Medical Professionals are not qualified? What if we found out the people performing these eye surgeries were not even trained surgeons? What would you allu d**m*sses say then? I’m sure some of you would want to sue. Allu quick to blame Labour or Workers for the state of the country but allu doesnt blame allu ignorant, narrow minded selves.
Okay!!! A ship has been on island performing medical acts for how long and the government did not know until a flyer was circulated in public? Should we believe this Mr. Darroux? You are an educated person. Stop making yourself look like a fool…talking all those garbage. Smh. What would be and was the purpose of receiving the names of all personnel on that ship? If it was there during Maria, and you said that it was…should youant already have a list of its personnel? “He explained during the ship’s previous visit after Maria, medical services that were offered went through without a hitch saying it provided the government with the list of personnel. Ships that visited after the storm gave a list of their personnels”
Dr. Darroux may be in need of some medication attention of some sort. To link that corrupt Labour Government to decency is an illness gong on now for years and has contaminated the operations of our dear Island Domininca. For sure Dr. Darroux is a joke, take a break “We are ruled by rules and regulations and we have the Medical Act in place,” he said. Really, really, your corrupt Bobolist Labour Government self proclaim lie is ruled by rules and regulations. Why didn’t you all intervene swiftly re the Fertiliser Bobol purchase in Pennsylvania when a minister of yours used his brother,broke all the rules and regulations for the purchase of governments materials, in this case fertilizer and use the services of a brother of this sitting labour government to purchase Fertilizer. When Hon Linton exposed you all ASSests all say it is not true. But when Hon Linton presented the telling evidence all you had all you blind loyalists within the financial service to say that “it was a mistake”.
It only stands to reason that if you’re going to be providing an absolutely essential service such as health care that you need to prove that you’re qualified and capable of doing so.
I don’t trust alot of the things that the DLP says but if the captain of the “Pacific Hope” did not get in contact with the Ministry of Health to inform them of the new services being offered upon their return from the Bahamas then that’s just wrong.
We’re talking about the lives of ordinary Dominican people. Those who can’t afford to fly overseas for treatment. Irrespective of party colours we should at least acknowledge that all the necessary information and credentials should have been submitted in advance.
We appreciate the tremendous help that you gave us post hurricane Maria but even though we are a poor third world country we do have a Medical Act in place which needs to be adhered to.
The stupidity level at which the island is being manipulated is amazing !!!!
Yes, by all means let’s turn away American medical services….who needs the extra help? (Sarcasm!)
I suppose the pastors in the north were not happy with them because they were competing for souls.
Lie!
Lie
Lie!!! The main losers are the Labourites you all are fooling .
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now
What Skerrit wants to see the list of people on the US ship? He thinks there might be someone on the ship that might be interested in him man? What is Roosevelt Skerrit afraid of? I wonder if that same FAIR of American presence on land contributed in the departure or firing of Ross University
We know you lie
You doh know that but you know all what happening in people private lives?
I just hope what the min. of health is asking from the Dominican registered vessel PACIFIC HOPE he will from the Chinese vessel docked in Roseau what a shame , medical services are rendered to us Dominicans and being refused by the government.
Most people can’t get services from the Chinese navy hospital vessel PEACE ARK. Its in Roseau and the PACIFIC HOPE is in the north and medical services refused shame on Ministry of Health, the Parl rep for Portsmouth and the government.
Darroux, BS you are talking. You can’t fool us anymore. The government of DA and more to the point it’s PM is playing politics. Just be careful you are not getting burnt. Elephant and mouse comes to mind.
We need to reign Skerrit in. We can not continue like this.
Who are you guys fooling,the Chinese will not accept,Let me share with my friends in the nedia.
Thanks for clearing the air, protocol, authorities have to know who’s coming and going.
Crap that. Meanwhile they had Dutchman living here with one of our CBI passports not in his own name. Now he is back in his own country with the police. Just like Monfared. You all happy to suck a crooked foreigner dry before delivering them to their own authoritie in their own country. Yes they may be crooks but the Dominican passport you sell them prove to be worthless and give no protection. You are worse than them.
You mean, After 6 months? What kind of government is this? Does the mou which they are trying to get sighned for 6 months now Does it indicate what kind of operations are intending to be done aboard the ship sir ? Something just doesn’t add up
The people of Pacific Hope make no secret of the fact that there medical services are inextricably linked with the spreading of their christian gospel. This is frowned upon by the Chinese state and in fact illegal if not done under the state’s auspices. They must control such activities and indeed, the catholic church is only tolerated to operate in their country provided their bishops are vetted and approved by the state. Could it be that our government did not want to upset their benefactors by allowing U.S. medical missionaries to operate here while they were in port offering similar medical services but without spiritual salvation?
Amazingly Dr Darroux couldn’t clear the air while they were on island so he and his government had to wait until they left here to fool the people with their lies and propaganda.
Criminals were on that ship
They could have been infecting us with all sorts of things
Shame on you , you should appreciate the services brought to the country when the Min of Health can’t provide it free of cost. Again if you are a Dominican, I’m sure some part of your family received services from this vessel in the north.
I guarantee that there are fake medical doctors, who knows if some of them are convicts, convicted of mal practices China on this Chinese Hospital ship, my reason is that I handled too many fake documents from China, fake doctors, fake engineers etc. One came to my office with some fake medical doctor documents from China saying that he wanted to continue working in his profession, send the documents for assessment only to find out that he was a bogus fake medical doctor. Only in Dominica, time will tell.
Dr. Darroux stated the Ministry of Health has not received a list of the personnel on board the ship, while medical interventions were taking on board. “We called in the gentleman to let him know that we are awaiting the list before they should proceed,” he remarked.
Let me understand this…….. the services will be given the green light to be provided to OUR people if the list of personnel was given. These are the same professionals who provided OUR people with medical care and contracting services after the hurricane. Who are you denying medical services to? They cannot afford to travel overseas for medical care like government personnel. They do not have access to these medical services yet you deny them based on a list? Have you lost your humanity and spirituality?
Do you even know the qualifications of the personnel on the chinese ship? Are they medical students on a rotation? Are our people going to experimented on?
God help us!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly my take Nous Meme lol real loud. This is Rearness how long are gonna take the BS from these jokers is revolution something of a distant era?
Personally I would round up all these creeps and put them in a dungeon somewhere never o be found again.
“We are ruled by rules and regulations and we have the Medical Act in place,” he said.
What does the medical act say about dispensing medication with her no English written on the said medication?
Papa met doe tell me is dat dat going on dere