Tim: Deyalsingh Plan for Couva Hospital is Senseless
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has hit new depths of ineptitude in his slapdash and senseless plan for the modern Couva Hospital.
The chaotic scheme announced by Mr. Deyalsingh for the state-of-the-art facility lacks strategic planning and proper order, and is symptomatic of the PNM regime’s arbitrary approach to national governance.
After deliberately refusing to put the hospital into use for almost four years, the government, through its incompetent Health Minister, has announced a plan that betrays its ignorance about the medical sector and the urgent needs of the population.
There is a lack of medical and equipment planning and rationale in the inane so-called four components announced by Mr. Deyalsingh.
The haphazard proposal indicates a woeful lack of appreciation of the purpose for the innovative facility and how it can best serve the most number of people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Even though the public health care system has virtually collapsed under Mr. Deyalsingh and the Couva Hospital could have been put to effective practical use, he has revealed an esoteric and irrational plan for the institution.
In his confused proposal, one component would be “equipment procurement”, even though the facility is fully furnished with appropriate leading-edge tools.
While poor people are dying while waiting for hospital beds, the Minister tells of plans for stem cell research at the institution.
His proposal with respect to the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme services is obscure, as is his mysterious “development and revised plan”.
It is obvious that the bungling Health Minister is not well advised and that he has not consulted suitably skilled and experienced professionals in the medical fraternity.
The planned renaming of the hospital is typical of the PNM historic pettiness and malice.
The awarding of 51 per cent equity to The University of the West Indies is further bewildering, since the educational institution has no prior experience in business or the health sector.
Handing one of the most modern medical facilities in the Caribbean to The UWI is reckless and cruel blow to taxpayer who funded the hospital.
With every measure he has undertaken, Mr. Deyalsingh has publicly displayed his manifest unsuitability for the all-important ministerial portfolio of health and it is time that he is relieved of his position.
I call on the Prime Minister to dismiss the useless and egotistical Mr. Deyalsingh and have him replaced with an appointee of substance with an urgent mandate to radically improve the public health care system.
In addition, I urge the Prime Minister to revisit the plans for the Couva Hospital, putting aside small-mindedness, spite and political opportunism.
Trinidad and Tobago requires the Couva Hospital to be put to its originally planned use, since this would bring the maximum value to patients.