STANDING from left: Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey; Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville; Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip Davis; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper; Founder and CEO/ WAUSM Peter Goetz; and WAUSM Managing Director Bill Colgan. Not pictured: Joseph Davis, Founding Investor and Government Affairs Liaison; Adrian Hunter, Legal Advisor; and Tanya Pratt Liaison. (Photos/OPM)
THE government signed an amended Heads of Agreement with Western Atlantic University School of Medicine yesterday.
According to a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister, this new HoA provides a more profitable structure for The Bahamas as it removes the moratorium on medical schools.
“This opens The Bahamas to more educational investments,” the press release said.
“The devastation of Hurricane Dorian in Grand Bahama did not sway WAUSM’s commitment to the island.”
CEO Peter Gotez said they were “committed to being a part of the renaissance of Grand Bahama.”
There are currently 22 students enrolled in the university and 50 more are slated to join in May. For the fall semester 250 students have applied for the 100 spots available. Five Bahamians will receive full scholarship this year to the institution.
Secretary to the cabinet Nicole Campbell executed the heads of agreement.
At the ceremony at OPM yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper said: “. . .These types of projects bring great economic benefit to our communities and traditionally we have attracted many touristic developments that usually warm my heart as the Minister of Tourism. But let me say that this investment is also important to bring diversity to Grand Bahama, (and) brings diversity to our investment portfolio.”
The school will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at the campus in Freeport today.
Comments
empathy 2 years, 10 months ago
Medical schools are not “investment opportunities”!
The Bahamas should avoid the battle within American medical education that rages between ‘off shore’ versus US based and accredited medical institutions; this is an American issue that needs to be solved by American political and education policy makers. We should not be participants in the traumatic experiences of these young (and not so young) peoples’ lives for what amounts to profits from the operators of these ‘schools’. Don’t be fooled by the vailed enticement of “educational opportunities for Bahamians”, who still must seek authorization and licensure from Bahamian medical statutory bodies to ensure they meet existing standards and a guarded and reluctant US medical system wary of admittance for further training. Nor should you accept the premise that medical trainees are a benefit to the healthcare of Grand Bahamians; there are even now few educational positions available to Bahamian junior doctors who have already qualified…overall a BAD IDEA.
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