Acquisition of MRI machine for JNF Hospital government’s high priority: PM Terrance Drew

Basseterre, St.Kitts- “It smacks of dishonesty!” This was the sentiment of officials in the Ministry of Finance concerning a recent announcement by newly elected Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew during his inauguration speech. PM Drew’s announcement was described as an exercise in misinformation in which he sought to take credit for the procurement of the MRI machine for the JNF Hospital.

In a recent government release on August 15th, 2022 it was stated that the acquisition of the new MRI was of a High Priority to the new PM Drew administration. The release stated “The acquisition of this machine was always remain high priority for now Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Dr. Terrance Drew, who was sworn in as the PM on August 6, 2022. 

Since December of 2021 then Prime Minister Harris made a commitment and promised to improve health care delivery in St Kitts and Nevis with the provision of MRI service at JNF hospital by the end of 2022 . His commitment was made on an episode of Leadership Matters Program on ZIZ TV.

 Indeed, in the 2022 Budget delivered in December 2021, a provision of $5 million was made to acquire the MRI machine. The budget document highlighting the $5 million provision has been making it’s way around social media and provides evidence that plans were well on the way to procuring and installing the machine by the end of 2022 as promised by then PM Harris since December of 2021.

At the first official Cabinet Meeting of St Kitts and Nevis which was held on Monday, August 15, 2022, at Government Headquarters, PM Terrance Drew highlighted that the machine will be in St. Kitts very soon. 

In commenting, unnamed officials of the Ministry of Finance stated, “Prime Minister Drew sought to take credit for the MRI machine for which he had no input, and which was already advanced long before before he became Prime Minister. This is very sad. It smacks of dishonesty. Dr. Drew has misled the public in his inauguration address and has set a worrying trend and causing doubts about the reliability and honesty of the Prime Minister Drew.