Representatives from the International Atomic Agency have been called in to examine the Cancer Center.

The United Nations representatives are expected to arrive on the island this week, following a request from the Ministry of Health

Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister Lionel Max Hurst said the representatives have expertise that is not available in Antigua.

“That’s because we have no nuclear reactors or any of the other dangerous methods of generating electric power that they usually look at. And nor do we have any atomic weapons and they examine these weapons from time to time”, Hurst said

He explained further that the representatives have the expertise to ensure that no radiation is leaking and that no one is put in danger.

“But the cancer center is a place where radiation is applied in hopes of making those who are afflicted with that disease find treatment in Antigua…You may not know this, but the walls of the cancer center are as thick as eight feet, and that is to keep any radiation from leaking. So, when we ask the IAEA to conduct a study here, it is for the purpose of ensuring that there is no leakage and that no one is in harm’s way,” he explained

The demand by the majority shareholder for nearly 40 million Eastern Caribbean Dollars for the purchase of the Cancer Centre has been rejected.

The Government’s valuator has estimated its worth to be between six million to nine million EC dollars. That impasse has not yet been overcome.