Submitted by Anthony Davis

The chief administrator at Barbados’ lone public hospital is suggesting that authorities may have to consider discontinuing treatment for some terminally ill patients… the question I want to ask . . . ‘is Barbados ready for a conversation and a debate around futility of care versus rationing? – Barbados Today

Well, well, well. What next? The answer is a resounding NO, Dr. James!

How much is a life worth, doctor? What you should do is drum it into Chris Sinckler’s head that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) needs the funds which he recklessly cut. The QEH was functioning very well until he came along and cut the funds to that institution along with the funds to the UWI and welfare. These are all things that are hurting the poor, the needy and the vulnerable in our society.

Please note that he released the money for the bursaries after the most of the students who needed them most had already dropped out for lack of the money with which to register. This all from a “people-centred Government”. Methinks that the only people that they are centred around are themselves and their friends. Not one other Government which was in dire straits chose to cut spending to such institutions.

They don’t have money for these institutions, but they have money to pump into a Bridgetown Marina so that the rich, the famous and the bigoted can push us off another plot of land – along with part of Browne’s Beach where they plan on building a luxury hotel for the abovementioned. They cannot pay people the measly $650, but they have money for these projects. They don’t have money to pay those who have to rely on welfare – that has also been cut – but they have money to pump into Trinidad oil wells instead of our own. Once again one of our beaches will be taken away so that the playboys come with their sleek, shiny yachts can spend time there unmolested.

The first thing that comes to the Prime Minister’s mind to be done as soon as things start looking up would be to give more money to the Constituency Councils because they needed it. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) lacks funding and that is all he can think about – putting the taxpayers’ money into his friend’s pockets. And the list goes on.

I reiterate, Dr. James.

My answer is a resounding NO!

The lives of our people cannot be bartered with like those of some animal at an auction house!

One of the Indian Chiefs said: “They made us many promises, but they only kept one. They promised to steal our land and they stole it.”

The same thing is happening in our country, and Barbadians had better wake up and see what is going on.