The Free National Movement (FNM) hit out at government for its plan to abandon the expansion of the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, labeling it as evidence that the Christie administration does not see healthcare improvements as a priority.
Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis told reporters in Grand Bahama that the Christie administration was considering using the newly-acquired Island Palm Resort, which is adjacent to the hospital, as a temporary homeless shelter.
The Ingraham administration bought the resort for $1.9 million in April to upgrade the facility and increase the hospital's bed capacity.
"We are revisiting that hopefully to ensure that we will be able to bring some immediate impact on some of the challenges that Grand Bahamians are facing," Davis told reporters last week. "The stories about people living in cars, on the beaches, when we have that property sitting there doing nothing... we are looking at the possibility of bringing some of those persons off the beach, out of the cars and placing them there on a temporary basis."
FNM Chairman Charles Maynard said the party wants government to reconsider the decision, which he said could hurt domestic medical tourism.
"This upgrade is part of an overall expansion of the Rand," Maynard said in a statement. "There has always been a bed shortage at the Freeport hospital and the increased use of the operating theaters has further stretched the recovery capacity of the Rand. The FNM administration purchased the former Island Palm Resort, adjacent to the hospital, which provided a significant increase in capacity for the hospital."
He continued, "We question the Christie administration's commitment to the overall improvement of health services to Grand Bahama and their ability to provide real initiatives to stimulate growth to the local economy."
He said the FNM is aware of the economic plight of some Grand Bahama families and supports an expanded social safety net, but not to the detriment of healthcare.
"We do not support the compromise of the local healthcare system and the potential economic spin-off that can come from the completed Rand improvement project, which would provide much-needed jobs for the people of Grand Bahama," he said.
"The PLP government's decision is an admission that they do not have a plan to improve the economy of Grand Bahama," Maynard said.

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