DAVIS: IT’S YOUR FAULT, DR MINNIS – PM blames hospital woes on former administration

PRIME Minister Philip 'Brave' Davis and former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. (File photos)

As of Thursday, February 2, 2023

By TANEKA THOMPSON

Tribune News Editor

tmthompson@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip Davis accused the Minnis administration of neglecting Princess Margaret Hospital during its four years in office, but charged that he will “fix” the problems left behind.

As he wrapped up debate on the Nurses and Midwives Bill in the House of Assembly last night, he hit back at criticism from former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis about the state of disrepair and crisis PMH is in.

He laid the blame for the current issues at the public hospital at Dr Minnis’ feet.

His remarks sparked a heated row in the House of Assembly as Dr Minnis sought to rebut what he called “wrong information” about his term in office.

“He had four years,” Mr Davis said.

“If those who were there when I visited the hospital, I spoke about the crisis and if they had witnessed what I witnessed - when we saw gurneys with elderly persons in the corridors and it appears that every little inch of the hospital because of the neglect of the infrastructure of the hospital for four years, deterioration, because of that neglect, yes I did say I (will) fix it. And we are fixing it, that’s what I said.”

Mr Davis was referring to a tour of the hospital he took on Saturday of PMH’s wards, in particular those that are under renovation.

He said a number of wards had been in disuse during the Minnis administration, depriving people of needed hospital beds.

He said it appeared “hundreds” of people were seeking attention during his visit and he saw makeshift rooms where people were on gurneys awaiting admission because there are no rooms.

He hit out at Dr Minnis for not fixing PMH’s issues when he led the country.

“As a doctor holding the post of prime minister, and knowing the state of that hospital, and to do nothing. Nothing was done. I won’t talk about the Family Islands and all the clinics they just abandoned and did nothing to. And he has the temerity to say what we must do - you don’t have the moral standing to speak to these matters,” Mr Davis said.

“The neglect of our health system in recent years was indefensible. And what we were then doing, we were inspecting our efforts to fix it and it is being fixed and within the next six or eight weeks those wards will be up and running and we will no longer need (the arrangement with) Doctors Hospital West, we are also building the module hospital with 26 beds and we are well on the way, having completed the feasibility study, for the hospital to be built here in New Providence and it’s now gone to the financiers for their look and we’re hoping to get a response very shortly.”

He said funds have been secured for the hospital in Grand Bahama.

“The money is here. . we should see that very soon,” Mr Davis said.

His remarks drew Dr Minnis to his feet, who said he had a right to rebut the prime minister.

“I rise on a point of clarification. The prime minister cannot give wrong information and I sit and say nothing,” Dr Minnis shouted.

“The prime minister – cannot come here and believe that he can lambaste this side without clarification. This is not his House! This is the people’s House and he has in this House, in this House every man is equal!”

Mr Davis then rose and tried to speak, however, Dr Minnis shouted from his chair, prompting shouting from members on both sides.

When he was given the chance to speak again, Dr Minnis said the problems at PMH are the fault of the Davis administration.

“In this House. . .everybody is equal,” Dr Minnis said. “The problems that we face today in the healthcare system is because of their inadequacies, in addition to that, the prime minister should not worry about what happened on the opposition’s side — he needs to worry about that crew in the front bench.”

M0J0 1 year, 2 months ago

I mean I dont agree with the blame game but Dr.Minnis really should not open his mouth because he had years to make a difference and surely did not.

themessenger 1 year, 2 months ago

Thats all the leadership of either party is good for these days, " dey cause dat!" no innovative thinking, fresh ideas or action, just more hot air and finger pointing. SMT!!

stillwaters 1 year, 2 months ago

No man......is this the best the PM can do or say?

KapunkleUp 1 year, 2 months ago

Blaming the other guy means you don't have any solutions either.

newcitizen 1 year, 2 months ago

Davis has been the PM for a year and a half now, at what point is does he accept responsibility for doing nothing to fix all these problems he has blamed on others?

Sickened 1 year, 2 months ago

Never. The PLP on want power for personal game. What they achieve for the people and in what economic condition they leave the country is NEVER a consideration. Since Pindling's time, their party has only gotten greedier and more incompetent. Pindling and Ingraham were the only two visionary leaders that had the people in their heart.

SP 1 year, 2 months ago

You have no idea WTF you're talking about. Pindling and Ingraham are the architects of all that is wrong with our country!

TalRussell 1 year, 2 months ago

Not such an encouraging situation to have a sworn-in perform on job and the kicked out office premierships babbling on over who's most responsible not upgrading hospital care and equally seen doing little to correct its failures. .

A premiership has to always be thinking about whatever hospital care action they take — or what action they refrain from taking — the dramatic impact it will have on generations to come.

Whilst all premierships decisions are weighty, none can compare crucial significance of hospital care from the cradle to senior years, ---- Yes?

One 1 year, 2 months ago

Reject this blame game. We need the current leaders to focus on what they will do AND DO IT! Not try to distract and waste time blaming others.

Emilio26 1 year, 2 months ago

At the end of the day both parties are at fault for the poor state our healthcare has been in for the past 50 years. Besides if the PLP and FNM were really serious about fixing our healthcare system they would've adopted the Canadian or European model a long time ago. Unfortunately, Pindling, Ingraham, Christie ,Minnis and Brave have failed us all.

TalRussell 1 year, 2 months ago

Be proud when a group of Out Out Islands, still has achieved lots about how the government General Hospital is operated---- that is well worthy of saving and improving but cannot be achieved without encouragement and help from its Popoulaces'.

Any deficiencies in healthcare, do not result from its being woefully underfunded. ----- When the Popoulaces'Purse ---actually spends far in excess of any other Caribbean government. --- In fact, lots more ------ slightly under $2,300 Per Capita (US $) ----- That is far more spent than many governments globally.

The Bahamas is considered as having a paradise of a developed healthcare system, ----Yes?

birdiestrachan 1 year, 2 months ago

The doc is out of control a mad man looney farm kind of guy he is done Finish he can surely sing ,!I wonder why no body like me is it because I am ugly ! .?..?

birdiestrachan 1 year, 2 months ago

TheThehe

Flyingfish 1 year, 2 months ago

This finger pointing is shameful, I mean Brave might as well blame Perry for PMH, oh wait he won't because that isn't politically correct. He was also in that government so it doesn't advantage him. Such shallow thinking within our politics

birdiestrachan 1 year, 2 months ago

Doc remember the sick people under the tent in GB when the winds blew and the Rain poured

TalRussell 1 year, 2 months ago

There is much to be said for why Comrades "Brave" and Mr. Minnis play the blame game. ---- Because they're both comfortable at doing it and will keep doing so as long as they feel like they're playing to a certain type of the popoulaces',

For only the popoulaces' get to voice when enough is enough. ----- Why Elections are so damn important in shortening mandates, ---- Yes?

themessenger 1 year, 2 months ago

@TalRussell, Ma comrade, dey say "when tief tief from tief God smiles." When the Almighty looks down dis nation of fools he mussy rolling on the streets of gold and between the pearly gates, ----Yes?

sheeprunner12 1 year, 2 months ago

The "New Day" PLP is a lost cause .............. Brave is ridiculous. Worst than Minnis

Look what you gern get, when you tired of what you gat.

John 1 year, 2 months ago

‘ A man we’ll call “Egon Tusk” had just become the CEO of a large tech company.

The departing CEO left him with three envelopes numbered 1, 2 and 3.

"Open these if you run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," the departing CEO said.

Egon made a lot of changes, but six months later revenues had still not picked up and was in fact lower than when he was brought in. Egon was catching a lot of heat. Almost at his wit’s end, he suddenly remembered the envelopes. He opened the first one, it said: “Blame your predecessor.” Egon went all out on PR and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press, and Wall Street, responded positively, the stock price went up and the heat was soon off him.

About a year later, the ad revenues had still not picked up, and the company was facing serious engineering problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, "Blame the environment.” Egon went on a PR overdrive again, blaming the war in Europe, the global recession etc. and the pressure was off him again.

More quarters passed. The company was still not generating enough revenue. Under pressure again, Egon turned to the third envelope.

It said: “Prepare three envelopes.”’

SP 1 year, 2 months ago

Do these two clowns really believe we are stupid enough to fall for their desperate attempt to change the narrative away from illegals, crime, and poverty?

Everyone knows the PLP and FNM are equally responsible for allowing Haitians to destroy our healthcare system!

We must hold their feet to the fire!!

BONEFISH 1 year, 2 months ago

Childish finger pointing. This act is getting tiresome. The problems with the PMH was there long before the Minnis administration.

bahamianson 1 year, 2 months ago

Yeah, this is Davis' first teip in politics, so he would have no.idea about the situation at the hospital. Only the locals know about all the problems in the country. The politicians have no clue. They are always flying all over the place, throwing parties at the country's expense , and cooking up deals for themselves, friends ,family and many lovers. On average each politician may have about three sweethearts.

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