Opposition Leader and Parliamentary Representative for the Marigot constituency, Lennox Linton, has expressed his frustration at the pace of progress on construction of the Marigot Hospital.
The EC$13.5-million venture is to be funded by the Mexican government, with designs provided by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
On Q95 FM’s ‘Hot Seat’, last week, Linton noted that although he and other parliamentary representatives for the various constituencies in the area had met with the Health Minister, Kenneth Darroux, to discuss the hospital, he remains dissatisfied.
“All we have had for four years running is talk, talk and more talk, while the medical service required by the people of the area had deteriorated… and now is at risk of becoming nonexistent,” Linton said.
His statement follows Darroux’s comments on Kairi FM’s Heng programme on Saturday, in which he denied that people in the Marigot constituency are being politically victimized, after protest action in Marigot last week over the delay in the construction of the new hospital.
In his statement, the Health Minister claimed that construction was hindered by “bureaucracy” and the passage of Hurricane Maria.
The Opposition Leader went on to say, “If you are going to build a hospital, then you are going to build the hospital, and you are accepting contributions or donations from whoever would want to help you build the hospital. But it seems to me that this government has decided [that] somebody is going to help to build the hospital, and that person will determine the pace at which the hospital is built, the time when it is delivered or if it will be built at all.”
He suggested that the Government use its own funds to begin construction.
“We talk a lot about our own abilities, and the government boasts of its reserves, and the government boasts of the funds that have been coming into Dominica from the sale of passports…” he noted. “And you’re telling me that you cannot find anywhere in that… $20-million to put a health facility in Marigot for the north-eastern district…”
The Marigot Hospital was shut down in 2016 due to mold and fungus infestation of the building which housed the facility. Prior to this, it was shut down because of a severe termite infection.
In June 2016, Opposition Leader Lennox Linton wrote a letter to the Prime Minister raising concerns over the medical facility.
In December 2017, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said that the final documents had been signed and submitted to the Mexican Government for the construction of what he described as a “smart hospital” at Marigot.
Darroux stated that the final documents, agreed upon by both parties were signed just last week.
A date for the commencement of construction of the hospital has not yet been announced.
The hospital should have been delivered to the people at this point in time. Political pettiness and spitefulness override the health and lives of the people of Marigot and the neighbouring communities.. Both Dr.² Skerrit and Dr. Darroux are engaging in lying excuses. One said the final documents were signed in December, 2017, the other insisted that the same documents were signed just a week ago. Dr.² Skerrit is a congenital, compulsive and pathological liar and Dr. Darroux has expertly learnt the errand ways of the Double PHD. This Skerrit-led government has shown an abhorrent disregard for people’s wellbeing and welfare. The politics that they practise leads to division, hate, poverty, misery and ill-health.
Linton boy you have a mental health problem talking like you are doing anything to help or rebuild all you can do is to badmouth Dominica its a wonder you have not started wearing your trousers back to front yet, Dam lazy find yourself work in Marigot to get on with. All you can do is talk with no supstance to back it up.
The government has so much funds according to their spokespersons, therefore this project should be something small for them to get done. And in my view should be priority.
Who is wrong these stories for dno.are you reporting what the Minister said of what Lennox Linton said.if your goal is to educate the people .report the reason the minter said the hospital is delayed not the nonsense mr Linton keeps repeating.shame shame shame dno.
ADMIN: We did report what the minister said: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/darroux-on-marigot-hospital/
Shame, shame, shame on your grammar! Go, let Linton teach you how to write, spell, and punctuate. DNO’s goal is to inform and your goal is to educate yourself. Please go and educate yourself! You SEEM uneducated.
My God Mexico don’t even have money and they building hospital for Dominica. What next? indonesia going to build a school or something for DA.