The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS of Marsh Harbour, Abaco, yesterday complained that stalled construction on a community hospital and the government’s disregard for the local clinic in the area has forced them to cope with “substandard medical facilities.”

According to Tim Roberts, a Central Abaco District Council member, construction on the $12m hospital came to an abrupt halt in early July, resulting in a “general consensus” in Marsh Harbour that the “government could care less about Abaco”.

He also said the government “doesn’t appear to be interested” in funding the repair of the existing clinic in the area.

“Residents feel like it’s the same thing what happened with the airport project where the government will just drag their feet,” he said.

“There’s a feeling here that the government doesn’t care about Abaco and will just take their time on things. Ground was broken in 2012 and it was supposed to be finished by June 2013. The last deadline we heard was somewhere in January, but here we are a year overdue and... we don’t know what’s going to happen.

“Meanwhile, the Marsh Harbour government clinic is deteriorating into further disrepair. The women’s bathroom, the partitions are down or not working, so there’s no good privacy in there. There’s been issues with mould in the past, the building hasn’t been painted in a while. It just looks run down and the government doesn’t appear to be interested in funding the repair of it. We’re left with substandard medical facilities.”

In 2012, under the Ingraham administration, the National Insurance Board signed a $12m contract with Coastline Construction to create a new community hospital in Marsh Harbour, coming almost 25 years after NIB built the first community clinic there in 1988.

Scheduled to be completed in 60 weeks, then Minister of Health Dr Hubert Minnis said the community hospital would replace the clinic as the primary health care facility for the community. He also said all residents of Abaco, including those who used private health services, would “benefit from the new and expanded services this facility will provide.”

Two years later and with a new administration, the facility has yet to be finished. According to Mr Roberts, the facility is “about 90 per cent complete”, with the parking lot, external works and outside painting already taken care of.

“They’re currently waiting on adjustments to the inside for medical equipment they’re supposed to receive, but the government hasn’t done that either,” he said.

“There’s no schedule at this time without getting a comment from NIB or Shane Gibson (Minister of Labour and National Insurance) whether there’s any equipment coming in, much less any being ordered. So with the lack of comment we don’t know where we’re at.”

When The Tribune contacted Theresa Burrows, Senior Deputy Director of Business Support and Administration at NIB, about the matter, she said she was not prepared to comment.

Attempts to reach both Coastline Construction representatives and MP for North Abaco Renardo Curry were unsuccessful up to press time.