Grace queries Shevern’s grading of her hospital performance

Hospital Administrator Grace Walters on Tuesday made her own insinuations as she responded to her opponent, Shevern’s John’s examination of hospital services under her watch.

John, a former educator and the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) candidate for North Windward, is hoping to drive home her lesson to constituents that they should break with the incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP), after five consecutive five-year terms.

She placed the hospital services under the microscope on Saturday as she spoke at the NDP’s Warm-Up Rally in London, a north Windward Village.

John said she was looking at healthcare “not with rhetoric, but with the reality.

“Because when the roof of the hospital cave in, when mould creeps across the walls, when the very building meant to heal you become a hazard, then we must ask who is truly caring for our people,” John said.

She noted that Walters wears two titles: hospital administrator and ULP candidate.

“But I want to tell you tonight, titles do not heal patients. Titles do not patch roofs. Titles do not disinfect the mould that you have in the hospital. You know what does? Leadership does,” John said, adding, “And what we see at the hospital is not leadership. What we see is complete neglect.”

The NDP candidate said healthcare is not just about brick and mortar.

“This is about mothers giving birth under leaking ceilings, nurses and doctors working long hours with little remuneration. Patients waiting at the A&E (accident and emergency) for hours. One doctor at the A&E; he or she burns out.

“Patients having to buy their own medications. Patients’ bed not in good condition, no proper toilet; a dirty hospital. Only God could help us. We cannot accept this. We deserve better. We deserve a healthcare system that is clean, safe and dignified.”

John said Vincentians deserve “an administrator who acts, not just campaign. We deserve a government that prioritise health not after a scandal, not after a speech, but every single day.”

She said that since 2015 the NDP has been championing better healthcare for the citizens of SVG “by introducing also proper facilities and the national health insurance plan.

“What a team of leaders! My friends, the choice is coming in this election: is either more of the same of the ULP or a candidate that will work for you every day of the next five years,” John said and went on to share her plans “as to how fresh hope will be restored in this constituency of North Windward”.

John came within 62 votes of winning North Windward when she made her first attempt in 2020. She is making her second attempt after five years as a senator, even as Walters makes her first bid.

Nobody ‘raised a flag’ when Walters went on leave from the hospital

Walters responded on Tuesday, shortly after Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced that the general election would be held on Nov. 27.

“You heard them hurl attacks at me regarding the hospital, and my opponent has now jumped on the bandwagon,” Walters said.

“And now, heear what, I can respond. But guess what? My sister has reminded me to stay focused to the cause.”


Walters said she had been reminded to stay focused on her reason for contesting the election and to focus on enlightening voters on the positive things that the ULP government has done and the plans for the future.

“But I have to say this: if it’s one thing I know not a single person with whom I have worked has raised a flag when I proceeded on leave from the hospital. In fact, many of them journeyed to Sandy Bay to stand with you in support of me when I was nominated.

“Another thing, in the years I spent in community service, I have never caused any youth I worked with to feel less than worthy. In fact, the objectives of my youth groups included ensuring that they knew their worth, recognised their potential, and knew that nobody was better than them.”

Walters further said that in all her years of service, “no one has ever heard me say at the end of the day, I’m getting paid because, comrades, what I did in my years of service was not a holding spot for politics. It was about people, and it was not about money. It was about love for people and love for service.”

Walters agrees health services need improving

However, Walters said she agreed that there is a need for enhancement of the health service.

“And in fact, this party recognised the need to strengthen health systems, not now, not since election period, and not for election gains, not because of Facebook posts, either,” she said.

She said the ULP administration made sound judgment, guided by a very competent staff at the Ministry of Health.

Comprehensive evaluation of the health system was requested and executed, resulting in the Strengthening Health System Resilience Project that is being implemented, Walters said.

The project includes the Acute Referral Hospital being built at Arnos Vale.

“You know this team don’t make empty promises like some people…” Walters said, adding that it was recognised that work needed to be done.

“And the work began with the refurbishment of the paediatric ward and continued with the refurbishment of other areas, including upliftment of our staff in their education. We have a number of staff nurses and other categories of healthcare professionals who are holders of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, all for the enhancement of the health system.

“Yes, comrades, this is the facility they want us to abandon when we break ties from Taiwan. They want to halt the construction, resulting in a loss of jobs. And if — and I have to say if — because only God knows what their partners have in mind, eh?

“So, if their new partners complete it, is the same hospital they plan to sell off to their investors, making health care inaccessible and unaffordable, taking us back in time.”

Walters urged voters to keep the NDP out of office.

“… our biggest threat to progress is that party. Let’s tell them a word that they are familiar with: no. We refuse to go back in time. … We refuse to give up our country to indecisiveness and novelty.

“We say yes to the ULP, yes to competence; yes to sound leadership, stellar governance and a party that continues to develop. We say yes because the Unity Labour Party is a party who knows how to handle disasters. In the last term, this party was tested and passed with flying colours, as Sister King would say, we give them 10 out of 10,” Walters said.