MP for the Southern Grenadines Terrance Ollivierre sought answers from the government on Tuesday as to why, after 3 years since the purchase of the medevac vessel (Baliceaux), it is not being used for the purpose it was intended.
In providing an answer, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that in the working of the vessel, it was found that for some evacuations, the doorway of the vessel’s cabin was not large enough.
“In those circumstances, other vessels have been used to evacuate the patients. We are seeking to supplement the medevac on the marine side; in fact, yesterday I was sent information that Lieutenant William Theobalds has been in touch with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution seeking advice and guidance on the procurement of another vessel, which we can acquire to support in this regard.”
“The Medevac vessel was last used in July for a medical evacuation when it transported a patient who was suffering from decompression illness to Grenada for medical care.”
“We have been in conversation with an operator of helicopters to supplement air medical evacuation, and in the plans for the hospital, which is to be built starting in the first quarter of 2024 at Arnos Vale, there is a design where a helipad would be in that particular structure.”
Gonsalves said that in 2023, the Coast Guard will have conducted 69 medical evacuations. 40 of them were conducted from Union Island and Canouan, and 29 from Bequia.
Gonsalves said the SVG 05, or Baliceaux medevac vessel, is operational, is stationed at the Coast Guard base in Calliaqua, and is primarily used for medical evacuations and routine guard patrol duties.
