 Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this, the request before Parliament seeks to amend the St. Jude Hospital Act Cap 11.20. Speaker Section 65.1 of the Public Finance Management Act 2020 provides that the Minister for Finance may by an affirmative resolution of Parliament grant a guarantee in accordance with an enactment. As allowed under this and the precursor legislation, there have been instances in the past where the government guaranteed borrowings on behalf of statutory institutions, examples being the St. Lucia Development Bank, SLDB, and the St. Lucia A&C Port Authority, SLASPA. The St. Jude Hospital has been faced with a myriad of impediments to its efficient operations, not the least being the fiscal constraints encountered over the years, Mr. Speaker. These were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many institutions in our country and beyond are emerging from the pandemic with elevated risks and liabilities and liquidity concerns. St. Jude Hospital being no exception. The hospital is used by many residents as we know particularly those who live in the south of the island. It is also accessed by visitors and persons here on extended stay, including foreign students who are here on placements on the growing medical residency programs. The Iwanora International Report is within a few miles of the St. Jude Hospital and as such, the hospital continues to provide an important service to both tourists and locals alike. Mr. Speaker, the pandemic forced our medical facilities to undertake increased expenditures while suffering from reduced revenues. Work-in-capital needs for the hospital is significant and is growing and it continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic and treat with the high incidence of communicable diseases and other non-communicable diseases in addition to so many health issues. Mr. Speaker, the St. Jude Hospital has made a request for the guarantee of a line of credit with the financial institution to augment its current work-in-capital. This financing arrangement will assist in providing additional financial resources for the continued operations of the hospital, notwithstanding the ability of the institution to access financing facilities from commercial banks or other lending institutions. The legislation which governs the operation of the St. Jude Hospital does not have legal provisions which authorize the Minister for Finance to guarantee these borrowings. Additionally, there are no provisions for the state to come to the aid of the institution in the event that it is unable to meet its financing obligations, if so, defaulted under a guarantee of financing arrangement. While this may expose the government by way of a contingent liability, of course, it is important that the hospital which serves as one of our main healthcare facilities is important for the hospital to be able to operate without undue financial pressures and onerous requirements posed by its lenders if the situation prohibits it from servicing guaranteed debt. It is proposed, therefore, Mr Speaker, that it is proposed that we amend the St. Jude Hospital Act. It may be cited as the St. Jude Hospital Amendment Act 2022, this amendment which we propose. It requires inserting immediately after section 20 the following new section, section 20A, which reads 20A1. The Minister responsible for finance may, with the approval of parliament, guarantee in the manner and or conditions as he or she thinks fit. The payment of the principal and interest of an authorized borne by the hospital. Two, where the minister responsible for finance is satisfied that there has been default in the payment of principal or interest guaranteed under this section. He or she shall direct the repayment out of the consolidated fund for the amount in respect of which there has been a default. Mr Speaker, I wish to also provide some explanations for this. I think the St. Jude Hospital Board, Mr Speaker, has tried very hard over the last few months to manage the finances of the hospital. As we know the current conditions at the George Adlum stadium and the aging infrastructure within the hospital, the appliances and so on, place increasing pressures on the St. Jude Hospital with high non-operational expenses associated with maintenance costs that is required to save God both patients and staff. As I have said before, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a kind of unconventional recession with increased inflation that has reduced the financial position of the organization and reduced its buying power. If we look at inflation in the global market, Mr Speaker, it has increased the cost of supplies and have increased by 8.5% to 32% in some cases, which has increased the operating cost of the St. Jude Hospital where it is already resource constrained. If you look at the hospital revenue, Mr Speaker, revenue, the hospital collected 69%, 69% of its revenue from individuals who come for services, 69% in 2019, that was reduced to 13% in 2021 due to COVID and its impacts. And in 2022, only 19% of the revenue so far compared to the same time in 2019 has been collected. This means, Mr Speaker, that the hospital that cash flow for operations is severely diminished with no financial reserves to cover emergency costs. Currently, Mr Speaker, the hospital operations are covered by a $2.5 million overdraft which is used to service vendors, pay for pharmaceuticals and other hospital supplies that is not covered through the subvention. Mr Speaker, the subvention currently stands at $19.8 million. I wish to say, Mr Speaker, before I put this bill to the house, I wish to say a few words about the St. Jude Hospital just to thank a few people, Mr Speaker. As we know the hospital, Mr Speaker, was established on September 5th, 1966. And when we come to the house to speak about the St. Jude Hospital, I think our other local institutions also, Mr Speaker, I think it's always important to speak a little history so that we can continue with what the minister for equity spoke to a while ago about our people feeling that they own this country. What the prime minister said a while ago, Mr Speaker, that we feel that we are ourselves and we are building ourselves. So, St. Jude, it's important, Mr Speaker, to note that on September 5th, 1966, mother Oma, I knew when I was growing up the people who say mother Oma. But mother Oma, some people call her the Florence Nightingale of St. Lucia. And the sisters of the sorrowful mother of Franciscan religious order, based in Wisconsin USA, started the hospital. So it was established on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Lucia. Another wonderful project which is associated with the Roman Catholic Church. Patient care, Mr Speaker, at the time was provided at no charge. So the people of the south and people who accessed the St. Jude Hospital did not have to pay for doctors' visits because the doctors were volunteer doctors, the technicians were volunteers. There was ancillary staff from the United States and other countries. St. Jude Hospital became a wonderful model of healthcare and its traditions of volunteerism. And people bringing in the dough-wad to pay their bills. And the Yama Tutan which was valued, you know, hundreds of dollars. And all of that, Mr Speaker, there was a kind of social contract between the hospital and the people of St. Lucia, but primarily people of the south. And the sisters were able to manage the hospital. Mr Speaker, we had some great stories of success at this hospital. In 1992, the government awarded a management contract to Mercy Medical Center from Iowa, the United States of America. In 2003, the St. Jude Hospital Act came into being. And government partially subsidizes the hospital up to now. $19 million, Mr Speaker, is a drop in the bucket. But the St. Jude administration over the years have done wonders. There have been some kinks and we need to ensure that we have boards of management that are accountable and do things right. But overall, Mr Speaker, the people of St. Lucia and the people who have worked at St. Jude Hospital continue to work very, very hard. Over 400 staff members at this hospital. I wish at this stage, even though I'm presenting this bill, Mr Speaker, to thank all the members of the boards who have served in the past. As I've said before, there are different assessments you can make of the various boards and all of this is documented. But I wish to thank all those who have served, Mr Speaker. We need to look a little more closely at the boards of our hospitals, St. Jude Hospital, the Millennium Heights Medical Complex, and see how best we can encourage them by giving them even more incentives. But at this stage, Mr Speaker, the current board, I wish to thank the members of the current board, Mr Speaker, who have taken on a life of exceptional service in this period where the hospital is at the stadium still and they are resource constrained and they have so many issues to deal with and they have taken on a life of extraordinary service. And I wish to recognize them, Mr Speaker, before other members are allowed to make contributions if they wish. I wish to single out the members of the current board, Mr Lucius Elephig, the chairman, who is the CEO of the Library Credit Union. He was a former chair of the board, a long standing community service. Mr Norman Edward, who is the deputy chair, a retired teacher, a long history of service to the community of Viewford. Mr J. D. Japea Immanuel, an attorney at law and a community activist of long standings, of long service. Dr K. Louise, a medical doctor and former board member. Mrs Brunette Williams, experienced administrator and former employee of the hospital. Ms Cynthia Joseph, a qualified and experienced banker and community activist of long standing in the Viewford area. Mrs Chrissy Tobiel Hamal, a youth business activist and community activist. Experienced and qualified in certain aspects of hospital care management. Mrs Jeanette Hughes, a public financial management consultant and community activist. Mr Lawrence Constantine, a retired educator from Shwazei and community activist. Representative of the Union, Mrs Popo. Mrs Lydia Adkins, experienced and qualified health policy expert. And a community activist from Derriso. The management, Mrs Liz Altifa, who in the absence of the chief executive officer performed tremendous service. The team at the hospital, the whole admin team, the hospital attendants. The medical staff, Mrs Speaker. Dr Sebel Netram James, who is the medical director and her medical staff. The dental team, the EMS team, the nursing division, the handyman, the dietary team, health information team, the housekeeping team, the inventory team, the IT team, the lab team, the bio med team, maintenance team, medical meds, ward meds, pharmacy, physiotherapy, procurement, radiology and our security officers. Mrs Speaker. All the departments, I wish to, I wanted to take this opportunity, Mrs Speaker, to tell you who these people are. I did not mention all of the names. At another opportunity, I will mention all of the names, Mrs Speaker, if you will allow me. So when we are speaking about these organizations, where people are sacrificing to ensure that they keep these hospitals growing. And there are many issues at these hospitals, Mrs Speaker. Whether it be the Melanium Ice Medical Complex or the St. Jude Hospital, there are so many issues for us to deal with. So many issues for us to deal with. But we are going bravely forward, Mrs Speaker. We are not cowing in fare because there are criticisms. We know there are criticisms, but we are working diligently to ensure that we deliver quality healthcare. So Mrs Speaker, I bring this bill to the parliament and ask honourable members to provide the St. Jude Hospital and especially the Board of the St. Jude Hospital with the support. Very quick, Mrs Speaker, I would like to explain to the people here with the parliament that the Board of the St. Jude Hospital is in such a difficult situation, because to help people and to guarantee the government of the St. Jude Hospital, there is no law. To help people and to guarantee the government of the St. Jude Hospital, there is no law. Because in English, it is a contingent liability. It means that even if the government is not able to help, if the government is not able to help the people, the government is not able to help. But we can say that if we put the law in St. Jude, who is able to help with parliament, it is not only the government, but the parliament is able to guarantee the government of the St. Jude Hospital. It is easier for them to join the government with the government of the St. Jude Hospital. In St. Jude, the government of the St. Jude Hospital is 19 million dollars, 19.8 million dollars every year, but the government of the St. Jude Hospital is not enough. Because as much as the government of the St. Jude Hospital, the government is not enough. Because we are not enough. The government is not enough. So, we cannot do anything. We cannot do anything. We cannot do anything. But the government is not enough. We cannot do anything.  Twenty                                       Y  y minisla ki minisfinas kamade plisipo ewek minisfinisla vleba ewek bordla a shai si po ko sa nukoi si nuk changé si nuk mete sa an loa nukai sa vinipa lama po garanti la jen by Senjun ewek nusav nunia bord kisawie misia elevik ewek se ti mlea yoka faan shai toabai yoka changé mislidiya Adkins ewek glister muna yoka toabai u changé baga e lo pitala po fei plime ko sa mga mene sa duvan ewek mga rasiweki mam palama kaisipote Senjun eksipote loa sala mesi en shai