St Lucia opposition wants ‘definitive statement’ on St Jude

The opposition in St Lucia has called on the government to “immediately” make a “definitive statement” on the future of St Jude hospital.

The St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) is concerned about what they see as the “conflicting positions” by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet’s administration, according to a statement sent to WIC News.

This has been an ongoing issue since the United Workers Party took power, they added.

Fire destroyed the surgical wing of St Jude hospital, Banse, in 2009. The facilities were moved to the George Odlum National Stadium in Vieux Fort.

Since then, millions of dollars have been spent rebuilding the hospital, but the government announced last week that it was considering scrapping the development.

Moses Jn Baptiste, the SLP spokesman on health, said that hundreds of St Lucians who have either called or written to express their shock at the recent announcements by Mary Isaac.

“The St Lucia Labour Party is horrified by the statement made by Heath Minister Mary Isaac on September 14th, 2017 which was broadcasted [sic] island-wide on the complete demolition of the hospital which was actively under construction when the UWP assumed office in June 2016.”

Another party, the Lucian Peoples Movement, has also criticised the government’s “insane” U-turn.

“To us in the LPM this isn’t just insane, but demonstrates the government’s lack of commitment to providing adequate health services to the people of Saint Lucia,” Therold Prudent told the St Lucia Times.

”It also paints a frightening picture of the United Workers Party government’s understanding of what it means to be fiscally responsible in the discharge of its responsibility to the nation, while balancing its spending.”