Diabetes to take spotlight at northern hospital

The site of the St Joseph Hospital at Ashton Hall, St Peter which has been handed over to the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus through a partnership with Government is to be used to focus on diabetes reversal research.

Leader of Government Business in the Upper Chamber Senator Lisa Cummins said during debate on the Resolution to rescind Resolution No. 12/2012, that she understands from the UWI that they intend to use the hospital for a range of purposes, including research and partnership, particularly in the area of diabetes control and management with specific emphasis being placed on diabetes reversal.

“In addition to that Mr President, it is my understanding from the University of the West Indies, in speaking with them as recent as yesterday, they too as part of that internationalisation agenda that I have just spoken with you about, have been partnering with international schools,” she said.

Senator Cummins, the Minister of Tourism, introduced the resolution to rescind a resolution passed 10 years ago that approved the lease of the hospital’s property to America World Clinics (Barbados) Limited and another resolution to approve the vesting of the abandoned hospital’s 21.485 acres in a joint venture between Government and UWI.

Under the agreement, Government will maintain a 25 per cent shareholding and the remaining 75 per cent will be held by the UWI Cave Hill.

Government Senator Gregory Nicholls, during his contribution to the debate said that a former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration was proposing to lease the St Peter property to build an international health centre at a lease payment of BDS$1000 per year for a period of three years.

“When we say today that there is a contextual difference in approaches of the two political parties in terms of the development initiatives that drive this country, we cannot let this debate pass without making that contrast very clear. Three years at a $1000 a year in Ashton Hall, St Peter. Think about that. It passed this Senate and the other place,” the attorney-at-law said. (AH)