The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE recent announcement of the proposed Hospital in the Perpall Tract, Rock Crusher, Stapledon Gardens area brought out the most unimaginable silliest commentary and selfishness.

The hospital will be a female/infant facility that addresses the infant mortality rate and females' health, which makes sense and is needed.

However, the most concerns came from people who gave no thought to the proximity to their homes in the event they, God forbid, needed to access the facilities. Are these the people who couldn’t care less because they have the means to access the high-end facilities or have significant medical insurance plans that include American institutes?

What is most interesting is that people concerned about the traffic and noise pollution from sirens are simply blowing hot air because they would move heaven and earth if their mother or children were in the ambulance in urgent need of emergency care to save their lives.

Everyone gets sick, no matter where you live, your qualifications, position, or disposition. The concern about living in a quiet neighbourhood should be a desire, but if a mother is sick, should the ambulance wait quietly in the heavy traffic and hope they get to the Hospital in time?

The most common demonstration at the Town Meeting at Stapledon School was that those who spoke only disguised as concerned to object. They would object if the Hospital were in the wilderness with no residents.

Constructive criticism is always welcome, but "make it make sense". No neighbourhood is more important than any other; no resident is more deserving to live life in a quiet area than the other; socio-economic position should not be the determining factor.

It is impossible not to hear police and ambulances every day. As time passes and the population increases, the more you will hear.

The Princess Margaret Hospital has been located on congested Shirley Street near Centreville, Downtown, and Fort Fincastle over the hill for over seventy years. It has functioned in tightly unplanned streets.

We have been using PMH all of our lives. No one complained about noise, accessibility, or property value. So, are we better than the people in the surrounding PMH neighbourhoods because we live in the Highland Park, Stapledon Garden area? I think not.

Get off your high horses, disguising your superiority complex like you're concerned about increased traffic, and embrace progress. No location would be good enough for a pessimist.

Forgive me for straying off the present course, but many would scream bloody murder about anything this government does.

Looking back in history, some people opposed National Insurance with all sorts of horror stories; they opposed the Defence Force and the University of the Bahamas.

They opposed National Health Care, Baha Mar, or anything that would move us further away from a fishing village, mainly because the previous government's modus operandi was to suffocate and stifle the people's spirit; that is why they never participated in anything national.

Majority Rule Day and Independence Day are two examples of how they are genuinely unconcerned about things that matter most to us as a people.

So, opposing the hospital is of no interest to them because they can hop on their air ambulance and go to the United States or Doctor's Hospital.

The government must move quickly to address our healthcare, so move out of the way of progress. There is no time to wait for the naysayers, who will always be with us.

There is no time for pussyfooting with the well-being of all Bahamians, especially those who nitpick about everything. We heard none of these voices when the former government embarrassed all of us by facilitating a man sign someone else's name with cameras rolling.

The show must go on, no matter who attends.

Harvey Mackey said "Pessimism doesn't grow your business or even maintain the status quo. The pessimists on your staff make the job harder for everyone around them. They make difficulties out of opportunities.

Pessimist peddle doom and gloom. Only sad people subscribe it.

IVOINE W INGRAHAM

Nassau,

May 21, 2024.