Today, after more than two weeks of raging speculation and public misgivings about government purchasing land to build a tertiary hospital, the Ministry of Health and Wellness finally caved to public pressure and did what they should have done in the first place. They held a press conference to answer all the burning questions.
It started at 3:30 at the Biltmore and Minister Kevin Bernard opened up by trying to convince the public that there was no smoking gun, no sweetheart deal:
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
"The truth is that as far as the land acquisition for the site, for the Belmopan Hospital is concerned, there is no smoking gun. There is nothing to hide. Let me go through the events for you step -by -step."
"Fully aware of the needs required to construct the new hospital, they determined that the UB land was not an adequate location. They presented a number of reasons for their determination. One of the primary reasons was the lack of access to care, including emergency care."
"This would be significantly delayed because of where the UB land is situated. The UB land is in a flood -prone area. A creek runs through this land that leads to the river that cannot be blocked or it could cause flooding in the entire area."
"Also, the technocrats at Belize Water Services Limited informed us at the Ministry of Health that to provide water and sewage services to the UB site, it would cost an additional $2.5 million to provide this service in the area."
"Imagine the inconvenience and cost to our nurses, doctors, cleaners, security personnel and others who would work at this hospital would have to endure having to go an additional six miles to and from work every single day."
"For all these reasons and more, the technocrats in the Ministry of Health made a presentation to the Cabinet recommending that the location be changed to a suitable land near the highways."
Dr. Julio Sabido, CEO, Ministry of Health and Wellness
"I have to reiterate what the Minister and Ms. Bell have both said here that there is going to be the access for that hospital. It will still be a teaching hospital as it relates to UB's part. The primary purpose of this hospital that will be built is not to be a teaching hospital."
"The primary purpose is to deliver secondary and tertiary services to the population. The added value, the icing on the cake is that UB will now have a place where they can send their students to study and practice before they become medical practitioners."
