St. George’s, Grenada, June 28th 2011: The New National Party is saddened with the state of the economy and the apparent lack of concern for the health sector especially the lack of empathy from the Government for those affected and in need of special care.  

 It is quite evident and accepted by many citizens throughout the length and breath of the country, that never before have we Grenadians experienced so many incompetent persons sitting in the same place - the Cabinet. And never before have we seen a government who has not the slightest clue that they won an election and is now in control.
 
The latest saga in this sad tale of non-governance, involves an invitation sent to our embassy in New York by Howard University College of Medicine to participate in a Caribbean Clinician Preceptorship Program (HU-CCPP).  The objective of the program is the enhancing of the capacity of Caribbean-based clinician to provide culturally competent clinical care of the highest quality to patients with HIV/AIDS living in the Caribbean.

   
 Grenada along with five other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries, were invited to send two practitioners who work in the treatment of patients living with HIV/AIDS to participate in the seminar at the university from July 24-30, 2011. All participants are fully funded to the tune of US $8000.00 each.

Now the smallest primary school student knows that Howard University is a highly respected institution in the United States of America, but maybe our Embassy is unaware of this; because they never replied to the deadline date of June 17th or the extended deadline of June 23rd.
 
It leaves one to wonder if the Embassy is closed until further notice due to lack of initiative, drive, direction stock-taking or maybe finances.  However, despite this indifference or incompetence, our dear Prime Minister was at the United Nation trying to convince himself that the HIV/AIDS program in Grenada is making notable progress.

He gave hardly any details and was vague in the two examples that he read if that could be termed examples. The NNP is of the view, that he was reading something but saying nothing.

Grenadians know that as of July 9, 2008 the HIV/AIDS programme went into a coma. But our Prime Minister reads "We have achieved noticeable results in reducing mother-to-child transmissions." He refused to elaborate on the fact that he met that programme there in July 2008 and nothing was added by his Government to enhance it.

Then he goes on, "civil society and people living with HIV/AUDS are involved more than ever in decision making and planning for the AIDS response."  Grenadians would like the Prime Minister to elaborate on this great decision and planning process that took place supposedly under their noses and no one smelt it or heard of it, most likely it could be only the person who wrote the speech.

So according to our Prime Minister, Grenada is still planning something and some people are involved in the process. That to him is such a great achievement that he just had to brag about it to the United Nation.  He promised also that Grenada would play its part in the global movement.

The NNP would request that the Prime Minister read what we were doing before July 8 2008 and play his part in Grenada first. Charity begins at home not in the UN. If nothing is happening under your watch, under your very eyes Mr. Prime Minister, how will you see and help the rest of the world?
 
Mr. Prime Minister, your Government has already embarrassed this country and all HIV/AIDS patients and clinicial practioners by the Embassy’s non- response to Howard University, please don’t embarrass us any further by telling the world that your Government is capable of helping in the global effort while you can hardly mention a single tangible thing that you have done at home, of your own initiative; not something that you met since July, 2008.

We the members of Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition, call on you Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of the people of Grenada; especially those affected with this dreaded disease, to tell us why your Government refused to take advantage of this golden opportunity, whereby our clinicians could have participated in this all expense paid program to hone their skills, and be better able to provide treatment and care of the highest order to our unfortunate brothers and sisters suffering with HIV/AIDS.

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