The government has confirmed a controversial decision to name the Mount St. John Medical Center after National Hero Sir Lester Bird.
The announcement was made during the delivery of the Speech From The Throne by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams.
“Superb leadership at the Ministerial and Directorship levels have assured us of a new and higher level of treatment at the hospital, which will soon be called: “The Sir Lester Bird – Mount St. John Medical Center.”
In defense of the decision, Sir Rodney said, “no-one endured more criticism and opprobrium for having the foresight, the prescience, to construct the purpose-built hospital on the Mount, than Sir Lester Bird.”
He added that “institutions that bear the names of their originators will forever cause the nation to examine our history, my Government believes; and, The Sir Lester Bird – Mount St. John Medical Center will stand as such a monument in history.”
The news is not expected to go down well with critics of Sir Lester who think he is not deserving of the honour.
Members of the main opposition United Progressive Party still do no recognise him as a National Hero.
Meantime, the GG has said that the hospital is enjoying “very high approval ratings from the population.”
This assessment was based on what Sir Rodney called “the turnaround which the people of Antigua and Barbuda have witnessed at the Mount St. John Medical Center, since 2014.”
He said, having invested nearly US$50 million dollars in new diagnostic and other hospital equipment; and, having added doctors specializing in urology, neurology, and emergency care to the team; and, having attracted visiting expert-surgeons to undertake complex operations on eyes and kidneys; and, having further planned to undertake operations on malfunctioning hearts,” all contributed to the favourable ratings.
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What the hell is this???
Oh just ABLP being ABLP.. Im so fucking sick of politics and politicians in this country. Nobody want country pond name after them too? I’m disgusted by this revelation
I think if they naming country pond, Sir deserves it 😂
And I’m disgusted by the fact that Buggy Peak was renamed after the 44th president of the Unitied States who lead the charge of destroying out offshore sector.
And I’m disgusted by the fact Buggy Peak was renamed after the 44th president of the United States and he was the one who lead the charge in closing down our offshore section.
WELL DESERVED…..WELL DONE….ALL THE UPP HYPOCRITES WILL BE MUZZLED. CONGRATULATIONS SIR LESTER BIRD
THIS COMMENT IS LAUGHABLE. Muzzled?? Lester deserves to have his name right there since he is just as much a travesty as what happens up at MSJMC. LOL WOOOIIEE ME BELLY
Soooo….People don’t die in Hospitals all over the world? I think a Hospital is the most common place where people tend to die especially if they are badly injured or terminally Ill……….Ur comment makes no sense what so ever…..
This is GREAT honour for Sir Lester Bird . His CONTRIBUTIONS to Antigua / Barbuda are admirable. CONGRATS.
Sir Lester Bird I am very very PROUD of you . CONGRATS.
ALL ANTIGUANS SHOULD BE PROUD. CONGRATULATIONS.
que pasa contigo?
@No Sir
@ NO SIR
You should show more RESPECT and leave Politics out of this.
Myself and Other Barbudans are Proud of Sir Lester Bird . The Others will bring politics into this…CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS
@ONE BIG DUTTY STUPESSSS
LIKE YOUR COMMENT FOR …”.NO SIR”
Hey my friend! yes I don’t know what happen to ” No Sir”
Sometimes I am very saddened by my Fellow Antiguans in the manner in which They deal with certain issues. It would appear that They judge certain issues POLITICALLY . I also believe that sometime They do not read the whole paragraph but you just have to mention certain names then They jump out of the cage and call all sorts of names. I find this is AWFUL . My appeal to my Fellow Antiguans please judge Persons on Their MERITS and NOT on which political Party They are assigned . This the 21st.Century.Let Us be better Persons going forward. Blessings.
CONTROVERSIAL DECISION? – WHO MADE IT CONTROVERSIAL?
Except the ‘…citizenry so sees or saw it as controversial,’ a ‘…Government’s Policy’ is always ‘…a Public Administration Policy.’ This news story writer appeared very careful not to ‘…associate the citizenry or any individual’ with the word ‘…Controversy.’
Looked at from a ‘…Mischievous Perspective,’ this news portal could be running the risk of being seen as ‘… Creating Mischief.’
However, looked at from a ‘…Professional Surgical; …Medical; and …Public Administrative Perspectives,’ those who practiced and/or continue to practice a ‘…Surgical or Medical Profession,’ and assisting the nation with ‘…maintaining and sustaining good health,’ the policy-makers could run the risk of having the ‘…wrath of an angry citizenry and disgruntled Medical officers,’ descend upon them.
Not sure what the hell may have happened.
However, if the ‘…Surgical and Medical Fraternity’ had any input, while the policy-makers may have suggested a ‘…former Prime Minister,’ out-numbering them by far, they may have suggested a’…former Surgical or Medical Practitioner’ for such administrative consideration.
Do know that they cannot, and has never called upon ‘…Papa; …George; …Baldwin; and …Lester’ to write them prescriptions.’
No Sah. Bad for a few things.
Know that;
(i) ‘…Diagnostics would be wrong; and
(ii) ‘…Medicinal intake could take them to the City of London.’
For any ‘…threatening health issues,’ the policy-makers can still travel to ‘…Miami; …London; …New York; and …Cuba’ for consultations.
Do know that ‘…Lester’ would prefer ‘…Surgical genius Dr. Joseph ‘Joey’ John’ to’… nip off any malignant body part.’
Not a ‘…Medical Professional,’ and not a Policy-maker;’ so don’t know a ‘darn’ thing else.
@ THE ANSWER
MAN….Control Yourself….All you UPP People CANNOT take the heat…Well get out the kitchen. @THE ANSWER …You now have a lot to chew on for the rest of your life….Wake and smell the coffee. You cannot change this now.
@U R comment is a killer like MSJMC
Do you know this is a done deal ? So just MANUP and deal with it. DO NOT BE TOO ANGRY. Sir Lester Bird hospital might save your life some day. Have som respect.
Remember making the mistake of joining the UPP and marching against this hospital. Recall years later Dr. John pointing out the many lies (eg when government sought ownership) told about where MSJ stands. He also justified why the current location was best. Recall the many positive developments over the years in terms of our healthcare system and the services provided by MSJ(eg first kidney transplant in the region). Have family members who have been to MSJ who testify to the great improvements since Holberton. Have a family friend who was the matron at MSJ who also pointed out the great improvements. Have seen it personally, being there for the birth of my children, and experienced the great care by especially the nurses. All of this would have not been possible without Sir Lester Bird, his vision and push to make MSJ a reality. As usual the opposition then as now sells this notion that we should not dream big. Thankfully we have real leadership which puts the upward movement of citizens and residents at its core.
CONGRATS SIR LESTER!!
Hilson “Brother B” Baptiste must be fuming. thcis goes against his objective to “…get rid of BIRDISM once and for all”
Who going to get Jabs at the hospital?
AH! Ha! – A DUNCE COMES TO ‘JAB’
Welcome back ‘…Duncy.’
New Year’s Greetings.
A ‘…Duncy way’ to start the New Year though.
Anyway, at last a’…Dunce’ comes to ‘…Jab’.
Do know that a’…Dunce’ can go into the wicket to ‘…Bat’ and not to ‘Jab.’
If any ‘Dunce’ wants to ‘Jab,’ he could wait until ‘…Mike Tyson’ comes to start the ‘…Hemp Planting Investment.’
Then he could get into the cultivation or a boxing ring to ‘…Jab’ with him.
Not sure how long the challenger would be down there for, and not sure if he would ever ‘… hear the count to get back up on his feet.’
Trainer’s instructions to ‘…Duncy Bat,’ instead of going in there to ‘…Jab wildly,’ spar from a distance.
They call that ‘…Shadow Boxing.’ Do not go close to ‘Mike.’ He likes to ‘…fight and bite like hell too.’
In that case, no physical contact.
Thus, ‘…nobody gets hit; …nobody going down; and …nobody gets hurt.’
If with ‘…Pollster Peter Wickham,’ already predicted sure defeat.
If a ‘…Dunce,’ could see him dropping the challenger ‘…flat on his belly.’
Ah! Ah! On the canvas.’
However,’…canvas or no canvas’ or ‘…vows or no vows,’ it makes no difference.
The challenger would still be going down. Not sure if it will be for the count either, but some ‘darn thing.’
Mr Pompey it has been a while since I had forgotten the password to my phone. Thankfully me and my brother they called Rock Head were able to figure it out. Happy New Year. I look forward to your ongoing comments.
ALL UPP HYPOCRITES ARE FUMING…Especially the following UPP GANG.
SERPENT
KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR
DAMANI TABOR and HIs Father
HAROLD LOVELL
D.GISEL ISAAC
GLADYS POTTER
CLEON ATHILL.( WILL BE RUNNING IN ST.PAULS)
@CORNEL HUGHES
Totally in agreement with you. Antigua now have a REAL Leader Hon. Gaston Browne.
There is still room for a compromise so as to calm the nerves of the disgruntled ones. Here is a suggestion: Why not rename it Sir Lester Bird Joey John Mount St.John Medical Center
@ FIVE STAR GENERAL
Just to appease Everyone….I will suggest the following name for the Hospital.
SIR LESTER BIRD , SIR PRINCE RAMSEY and Dr. JOEY JOHN MEDICAL CENTRE.
The above name will bring CLOSURE.
Since Sir Lester Bird was the brain child of MSJMC, its not a bad idea to have renamed in his honour…… I am still waiting to hear Queen Elizabeth Highway or a road in the area or a block of MSJMC be renamed after Dr. Prince Ramsey…….
What is wrong with the current name? Seems to me the current name is inclusive and fitting…
Fixing things that do not need fixing is never a good idea especially when politicians are the one doing the fixing.
I look forward to the Five Islands campus being named after Gaston Browne after all its the trend right?
One must always stop and admire the leadership of the great Castro he said do not name anything after him. If his contribution does not speak for itself, why force it on people who has no interest.
Yet they have named things after him in South Africa (at least 3 things), Vietnam, Guinea, Namibia, Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Jamaica, Russia. Why should we not honor our own? This unwillingness to honor our own is the reason why we tend to lack sufficient national pride.
@tenman
I look around and see many things named after the devil like a famous bridge etc but nothing after Jesus the Christ strange isn’t it, so who is getting the honor tenman? And the society call itself Christian……
See how confused you are….
Be objective do not confuse legacy with honor they are two different things. Legacy is selfish while honor is selfless….
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