Lovell Calls for Revival of OECS Cancer Centre Amid Healthcare Gaps
Harold Lovell, the United Progressive Party’s (UPP) candidate for All Saints West, has criticised the government over the closure of key health facilities and the underuse of Antigua and Barbuda’s cancer treatment centre, calling for urgent action to improve access to care.
Speaking on Observer Radio’s Connecting with Dave Lester Payne, Lovell highlighted that the All Saints Clinic — the only public health facility serving the constituency — has been closed for more than two years. He said the shutdown has left thousands of residents without essential services such as prenatal care, treatment for the elderly, and access for young children.
“It’s astonishing that for almost two and a half years, the All Saints Clinic has been closed,” Lovell said, adding that the Browns Avenue Clinic has also been shuttered. “The approach has been very lackadaisical, very casual, as though it doesn’t matter. But it matters greatly to the people in these communities.”
Turning to cancer treatment, Lovell argued that Antigua has squandered a regional opportunity. He recalled that the OECS Cancer Centre was originally established under a UPP administration in partnership with a Bahamian company, with support from Caribbean leaders including then-prime ministers Kenny Anthony of St Lucia and Denzil Douglas of St Kitts and Nevis.
The aim, Lovell said, was for Antigua to become the hub for oncology care in the Eastern Caribbean. But he accused the current government of failing to promote the centre, resulting in patients being sent to Colombia for treatment.
“What we are now doing is spending millions of dollars in the economy of Colombia,” he said. “That money could have been right here staying in Antigua — from the airfare, to hotel stays, to the medical services themselves.”
Lovell also pointed out the social impact of overseas treatment, noting that patients lose the support of family, friends, and community networks when they are forced to travel abroad.
Although the cancer centre was reportedly sold and placed under new management, Lovell said no updates have been provided. He urged the government to take responsibility for reviving the facility, stressing that without its active involvement, such a centre cannot function.
Lovell’s comments came ahead of a community health fair scheduled for 24 August at Buckley’s Primary School, organised with former UPP caretaker Barbara Coates. The event will provide free screenings, including for prostate cancer and children returning to school, as well as sessions on financial wellness and preventative care.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Alex Browne VOTE AGAINST the acquisition of the Cancer Centre
Shawn Nicholas ABSTAINED
When the facility decided to close its doors and the government sought to acquire it, I thought that was the plan. During its short lived time in Antigua, it provided lots of meaningful and very important cancer treatment services to patients. The cost of sending patients abroad whether to Colombia or elsewhere is enormous and costly. We got to begin to focus more on preventative health care because treating cancer or any illness for that matter is almost becoming prohibitive. The healthier we are, the less we are bothered about cancer treatment and the likes. Proper dieting, exercise and rest must be our focus. We have to begin to preach about the dangers of sugar and do more to get them out of the reach of children and even adults. Avoid substance (liquor) and smokes of any kind. We need to promote more health education and marketing.
This is why I’ve said time and time again that our Health Minister Molwyn ‘AstraZeneca’ Joseph just isn’t fit for purpose.
How can this “window dresser” not find the funding to open this vital Cancer Treatment Centre. I’m sick to my back teeth of this two tier service in Antigua where the politicians and hoi polloi can go abroad for their treatment and the rest of the country is left to fend for themselves – how obscene!
How is this man still in such a high profile and important post?
I thank the Lord each and everyday I didn’t pay him any mind during the Covid-19 pandemic; and especially now with the recorded growth in cancers since 2021.
We Antiguans deserve more from Joseph.
Again the Most Honourable Harold Lovell has hit the ground running by highlighting this important health issue.
Already trying to USURP the rightful position and authority of the HON. LARS JAMALE PRINGLE.
This LOSER has no shame, just a bad heart and a bad mind.
@ V for Vendetta
I think you give life and you take it away, maybe your heart will give out before his so be careful what you wish for you USEFUL IDIOT.
Again showing that he is totally out of touch. The investor the UPP brought in was bleeding the country. This government decided to take action. That negotiating process took a while. Then the equipment was old and outdated but could not just be moved and stored or disposed as it may have radiation leaks. So authorized and trained persons had to be brought in to do this. All of this I got from the news. But Lovell is in another galaxy.
@OTTO
A lie Lovell lie. How you think he get the name KING LYADD?
@ V for Vendetta Harold is not usurping the leader Pringle’s position. It is just that Pringle is weak and will be always upstaged by a more competent and articulate Harold Lovell. What the hell else you all in the UPP expect. Can you imagine in the election campaign Harold will speak before the leader and give a very motivating and inspiring speech. The leader comes after with a speech after that falls way below of Harold’s. How will that look to the UPP supporters and electorate. The comparison between Harold and Pringle will always be at the forefront and that is the mistake of the dunceness in the Party. UPP lack strategic sense. Pringle will not look like the real leader and neither Gisele or Wehner can change that. Bunch of IDIOTS.
“articulate” you say? Well Mr. Lovell’s “articulate” got him a WHOPPING 7 LOSSES!!!! So there goes being “articulate”
Meanwhile the HON. LARS JAMALE PRINGLE has a WINNING STREAK!!!!
“Numbers don’t lie; people do”.
@ OTTO,
What news? Can you distinguish between propaganda and news?
Which one of the propaganda outfits are you classifying as news?
If they don’t get their act together soon they will go down like the Democrats in the US.
Too little too late, and you’ll see the return of Gaston just like Trump
@ V for Vendetta your idol LARS JAMALE PRINGLE is the representative of the UPP in a SAFE UPP seat that even a dog can win. Your blindness and stupidity is amazing.