The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said newly-graduated nurses from the University of the Bahamas (UB) will help to ease shortages of trained staff on Family Islands.

Dr Michael Darville, minister of heath and wellness, responding to Kwasi Thompson, the east Grand Bahama MP’s, queries about when full-time nurses will be assigned to clinics in Sweeting’s Cay and McLean’s Town, said additional staff will be available for placement “very shortly”.

“As it relates to some of the challenges in Sweetings Cay as well as McLean’s Town, I must say that there is a shortage of nurses in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and we just had 58 new graduates from UB who are now being trained, and some of them are domiciled in Grand Bahama and have expressed interest to return home,” said Dr Darville.

“So very shortly, I believe that we will have the leg room necessary to ensure that Sweeting’s Cay is covered and, by extension, McLean’s Town.” Dr Darville said sourcing accommodations is challenging in Sweeting’s Cay and the Government is working to resolve the issue and ensure Grand Bahama residents have adequate access to healthcare.

“One of the greatest challenges we have in Sweetings Cay has to do with accommodation, and it was a similar problem we had in High Rock that was resolved, and so we’re working diligently on it,” said Dr Darville.

“The people of East Grand Bahama deserve, and should have, the necessary medical support system in place in the event of any incident or even to treat chronic non communicable diseases, and so that is definitely on our agenda as well.”

Parliament also approved a resolution to borrow $75m for the Public Hospitals Authority to construct a new hospital in Grand Bahama and to undertake repairs at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

“For completeness, the resolution passed for the borrowing of $75m for the Public Hospitals Authority was for the purpose of construction of the Grand Bahama hospital and some repairs to the Princess Margaret Hospital. And the consortium of banks is led by CIBC Caribbean,” said Prime Minister Philip Davis KC.