The House of Representatives has approved a motion brought by the Government
to acquire the Eastern Caribbean Cancer Centre Ltd. located at Michael’s Mount,
after the majority owner of the Company announced its effective closure at the end
of this month.
The Government introduced the motion for debate when the House of
Representatives met in St. John’s on Thursday. “Whereas the Land Acquisition,
Cap.233 provides in Section 3 (1) that “If the Cabinet considers that any land
should be acquired for a public purpose they may with the approval of the
Legislature, cause a declaration to that effect to be made by the Secretary to the
Cabinet in the manners? [or matters … double check from the Act] provided by
this section and the declaration shall be conclusive evidence that the land to which
it relates is required for public purposes”.
The motion seeks to do two things: (1) to prevent the closure of the Cancer Centre,
and to save the lives of the cancer patients currently receiving medical treatment at
the Centre; and (2) to arrange with any interested investor to continue with the
operations of the Cancer Centre, or in the alternative, for the Cabinet to secure
funding for the continued operations of the Cancer Centre.
The motion was moved in the House by the Minister of Health, Sir Molwyn
Joseph, who noted that the Government had no choice but to move swiftly to
acquire the Cancer Centre in order to ensure that patients at the Centre continue to
receive treatment, and for those who are newly diagnosed with the disease, can
begin treatment at the Centre.
He said the majority owner, Dr. Conville Browne, informed the Government in late
March of his intention to close the facility by the end of May, but not to take on
new patients after April 30.
He added that the Government could not sit idle when it is recognized that cancer
is already the leading cause of death in the country, and without the availability of
the Centre and the treatment it offers, that this could result in many people having
an early death.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that the Government tried to negotiate with
Dr. Browne but he remained recalcitrant in his position refusing to accept anything
other than the US$15 million that he was demanding. “It was like he was holding a
gun to the head of the Government on this matter. We cannot negotiate in this
manner,” PM Browne declared.
Several members of the Opposition spoke out against the Government’s decision
by suggesting that it ought to have pursued other means to keep the Centre open
without taking this drastic step of compulsorily acquiring the facility.
Following the debate, Sir Molwyn asked that members of the House vote by
division on whether they approved the move or not. All eight persons present on
the Government’s side voted in the affirmative…five members of the Opposition
voted ‘no’ with the independent member for St. Peter voting in the affirmative.
