The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT - Rev Arnold Pinder, president of Grand Bahama Christian Council, is concerned about the purported shortage of beds at the Rand Memorial Hospital.

He claims that patients are being accommodated in the Emergency Room because of the lack beds on the wards.

“We are very concerned about this situation at RMH,” Pinder said. “The wards are crowded and there are not enough beds to accommodate patients.”

Hospital administrator Catherine Weech was contacted for comments, but she was unavailable and did return a call to The Tribune up to press time.

Grand Bahama has the second largest population in the Bahamas. Although the Rand has undergone major improvements and expansions, there is still a need for a second hospital to meet the growing demands of healthcare for the 50,000 residents that live on the island.

Rev Pinder believes that the old Freeport Inn Resort, which was purchased under the former FNM government, should be used to alleviate the bed shortage problem at the hospital.

He claims that the lack of beds last weekend has heightened the need for more beds.

“Because of the tough economic situation on Grand Bahama, we find that many people are getting sick,” he said.

“There is a bed shortage at the Rand. Many persons had to stay in the emergency room because there were no more beds available on the ward.”

“The former FNM government bought the Freeport Inn Resort to put in additional hospital beds, I think it was a bad idea that the current government has now changed those plans,” Rev Pinder said.

Another issue, according to Rev Pinder, is the absence of a fire station on Grand Bahama.

The GBCC president said it was long overdue. Hurricane Frances destroyed the fire station on Settler’s Way in 2004.

“We are calling on the Port Authority and the Government to please get together and build a fire station as soon as possible,” he said.

Rev Pinder also expressed concerns about the flooding at Fishing Hole Road at Hawksbill Creek.

“The Fishing Hole Road has been a topic of discussions over and over, but nothing concrete is being done to address the problem,” he claimed.

“The people who live in West Grand Bahama need some sort of solution, maybe a bridge because when we storms people are stranded and unable to cross FHR.

“I am calling on the government to address these issues,” Rev Pinder said.