By Val Matthias. Updated 10:06 a.m., Monday, November 10, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Hospital Administrator and Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate Dr. Grace Walters has pushed back against opposition claims that her EC$144,000 government contract reflects political favouritism, asserting her qualifications and defending the state of the nation’s healthcare system.
The controversy came to light following a New Democratic Party (NDP) rally in North Union, where opposition health spokesperson Daniel Cummings criticised the government’s decision to appoint Walters as a healthcare reform adviser.
Cummings argued that the funds could have been better spent on frontline staff, alleging that Walters failed to resolve chronic shortages during her tenure at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. “This contract could have hired three top-class nurses,” Cummings said, referencing staffing gaps and supply issues, including a rural clinic notice citing unavailable nursing staff due to sick leave.
In a response at a ULP rally, Dr. Walters defended the legitimacy of her appointment, stating that she was granted no-pay leave to accept the contract based on her qualifications. “It’s not unusual for anyone who works with the government to be given a contract,” she said, adding that critics had failed to investigate the facts and instead relied on politically motivated narratives.
Dr. Walters also addressed the condition of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, countering opposition claims of neglect. She cited ongoing refurbishment efforts, a functioning internship programme, and a reported infection control rate of less than one percent.
Positioning herself as a symbol of women’s empowerment, Walters emphasised her academic sacrifices and commitment to public service. “I am Grace to you, but to Daniel Cummings, I am Dr. Grace Walters,” she declared.
Dr. Grace Walters’ EC$144,000 government contract as a healthcare reform adviser is directly linked to the development of the Arnos Vale Acute Care Referral Hospital; her role would include supporting the planning, operational transition, and quality assurance protocols for the new hospital, including the transfer of services from Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.
Her awarded contract comes amid heightened political debate over healthcare priorities and public sector appointments.
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