Critics say Cabinet lied about negotiations to acquire Cancer Centre, reportedly bought by Dr. Joey John
Following a call by the United Progressive Party (UPP) for transparency in
matters related to the sale or transfer of operations of the defunct Eastern
Caribbean Cancer Centre last Friday, January 12, the announcement of its
sale was broken on Sunday, January 14, by an online media house
associated with the Browne Administration.
According to the news outlet, “prominent surgeon Dr. Sir Joseph ‘Joey’
John has confirmed that the government has agreed to sell him the Cancer
Center Eastern Caribbean.
“Dr. John confirmed that all necessary approvals have been secured and
the deal is currently being finalized.
“He expects the funds to be transferred within the coming week, with
immediate plans to reinstate the Radiotherapy Unit to benefit the people of
Antigua. He said the deal has already been signed and sealed and once
delivered, the first patient could be treated next month.”
The article reports that “Dr. John has already engaged a European service
company for assessment and repairs and expects the unit to be operational
by February of this year.”
Like the Cabinet Notes of last Thursday, the article claims that “Dr. John
presented the proposal to the Cabinet on Wednesday, with the support of
two investors.”
Accordingly, some residents are sarcastically calling this “the fastest
transaction ever” to take place in Antigua and Barbuda, which, of late, has
fallen down the international “Ease of Doing Business” index.
For the purchase and operations, Dr. John reportedly has assembled a
team that includes an “American investment firm with existing healthcare
interests.”
Reacting to this news, several persons in the legal profession accuse the
Cabinet of “ lying to the people,” pointing out that no proper due diligence
on the firm and its principals could have taken place in two business days.
Nor could all the regulatory approvals been granted in that space of time,
they say.
Therefore, they assert, both Prime Minister Browne and Health Minister Sir
Molwyn Joseph need to say exactly when negotiations for the facility
began and how much has been paid for it – given that the treatment centre
became the property of the people by compulsory acquisition in 2023.
Ironically, insiders allege that Sir Molwyn was not in favour of this deal and
did not vote to support it. They claim he had been courting other investors,
but was too slow in getting out of the blocks with an alternative proposal.
Meanwhile, the online news article refers to “a new and patented cancer
treatment” that will be introduced here. That announcement has given rise
to questions about approvals for such treatment by international and local
medical agencies.
According to one physician, this is important to know, as most of the
Centre’s new clientele will have to be international – rather than local or
regional – if the facility is to become and remain financially viable.
Reportedly, it was low patient numbers and the absence of government
assistance that caused the unbearable financial strain cited by the Centre’s
original owner.
To date, it appears, the Government has not paid the major shareholder,
and has complained that his asking price is exorbitant.
Accordingly, last year, a government agent undertook a valuation and
determined that the building was worth EC$6 to $9 million. It is not known
what value was placed on the equipment and if that, too, was acquired.
There are now unconfirmed claims that the Administration has sold the
facility for the same US$15 million that the majority shareholder had
sought.
If that is true, one resident says, then the Administration is engaged in the
practice of “flipping” – which is acquiring a property at a low price and then
selling it at a considerable profit.
In a statement published last Friday, the UPP had called for the Cabinet to
adhere to the appropriate legislation, including the Procurement and
Contract Administration Act and the Tenders Board Act.
