While throwing stones at the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) administration of Dr D. Orlando Smith’s, Hon Malone pointed to political gimmicks with the NDP's promise to have the clinic opened as part of their 2019 campaign promises.

NDP Political Gimmicks

“When we got in, we found that they may have turned it over but the contractor needed to be there another six to seven months in order for him to complete the works that were actually contracted to do,” he told host Cathy O. Richards during his October 8, 2019 appearance on JTV’s Big Story.

The delivery of the Iris O’Neal Clinic is one that the VIP had promised the resident there during their elections campaign and noting that it is not his style to throw anyone under the bus, but stated, “It was not ready, it’s just about ready now to turn over from construction and we are now getting the furnishing and the equipment ready so that we can have the building opened.”

Hon Malone, however, pointed out that on the advice of his Permanent Secretary, he was not prepared to give a date for the opening but pressed by Ms Richards, he indicated that a possible opening date could come before the end of 2019.

As it relates to healthcare for residents on the other sister islands, Anegada and Jost van Dyke, Hon Malone agreed that there are challenges with the sea transport facility.

“The sea transport has to be improved. We will be putting into the budget this year, the procurement of a vessel purpose-built for it,” he said.

Hom Malone noted, “We had one that was deemed to be a sea vessel but it was built for another purpose, so it was not fitting for patients… so we have to make sure that we have this done."

Improved Medical Services

He said that they are not fully satisfied that 911 is in operation from 8 am – 5 pm and then transferred to another department thereafter, “we have to make sure that the 911 is built out to [be] a 24hr operation that no one misses a beat.”

As it related to resident Doctors and Nurses on the sister islands, Hon Malone said, “there is a scheduled time right now for the doctors, we are looking in terms of making sure that there is 24hr access to the particular services, medical services.”

He said when the Virgin Gorda arm of things are up and running, “We would have dormitories, we would have the clinic moving but at Anegada and Jost van Dyke, we must be able to offer not just a 2-4 or a 9-2 type of business, we have to be able to offer the particular service.”