By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:
POLITICAL hopeful Dr Duane Sands has a plan to revolutionise the public healthcare system, using the Elizabeth constituency as a model.
Dr Sands, a noted heart and vascular specialist, hopes to decentralise public healthcare by offering services at the Elizabeth Estates' public clinic comparable to those available at Princess Margaret Hospital.
He feels this initiative, if copied throughout the capital, would help to relieve some of the burden from PMH and allow for earlier detection of chronic diseases.
Healthcare, along with community concerns over unemployment, crime, traffic, and infrastructure issues are some areas Dr Sands hopes to address if he is successful in his bid to secure the Free National Movement's nomination for the Elizabeth constituency and wins the area's by-election race.
He said the people of Elizabeth have a myriad of concerns which he feels can be better addressed by a representative who has the weight and support of the Government behind them.
"With someone who is passionate and has the support of the government that many of these things will get done," he told The Tribune yesterday.
"I think we have an opportunity to make Elizabeth the model of healthcare delivery for the country. The model that exists in healthcare is very PMH centred we have to make healthcare community based. Starting from the model of that clinic (with) adjustments of staffing, equipment, (longer) hours of operation, diagnostics and therapeutic facilities now you have the situation where you can move the fight of disease out of PMH and move it into the community.
"And that is going to be the model needed to take healthcare where it needs to go," said Dr Sands, adding he hopes to work alongside Health Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on the initiative if elected.
The PLP won the Elizabeth constituency for two consecutive terms - albeit by a narrow margin in 2007 of just 45 votes - and Dr Sands sees himself as the "underdog" in the looming by-election race.
A virtual newcomer to the political arena, Dr Sands - who currently serves as Chairman of the Bahamas Medical Council, a Director of the Central Bank of the Bahamas and Chief of Surgery at the Princess Margaret Hospital - said his team plans to speak to every voter and "gain their trust".
Yesterday Speaker of the House Alvin Smith, who returned to the capital on Saturday from a conference in India, told The Tribune he had not yet notified Governor General Arthur Hanna in writing of the vacant seat in the House of Assembly.
Last Wednesday former Elizabeth MP Malcolm Adderley resigned from Parliament and the Progressive Liberal Party - setting the stage a by-election which is expected to take place next month.
By law, Mr Smith must instruct the Governor General of the vacancy after which an order will be made to hold a by-election and a date set.
On Sunday, the FNM announced that Dr Sands was unanimously elected by the Elizabeth Constituency Association as its preferred candidate.
Last night he was scheduled to face the scrutiny of the party's Candidates Committee and later the Executive Committee. If successful, Dr Sands is expected to be ratified as the FNM's official Elizabeth candidate on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the PLP is expected to formally ratify its yet unannounced candidate tonight. Attorney Ryan Pinder is rumoured to be the party's pick, although PLP Treasurer Craig Butler is also vying for the nomination.
Last week Bahamas Democratic Leader Cassius Stuart officially announced his intent to run.
January 12, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
