The closure-threatened Lamb Foggo Clinic in the east end will stay open, Premier Craig Cannonier pledged today.

Mr Cannonier told a protest march outside the House of Assembly: “For Bermuda we know that this coming year we have many difficult decisions we have to make for the country.

“But I can assure you that this was not a difficult decision for us to make — it was very easy to look at and to know that the Lamb Foggo Clinic must stay open.”

The clinic was slated to shut its doors after the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) said it could no longer afford to run it.

But Health Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said that clinic would remain open — although the BHB would not be involved.

And she said private sector specialist health service providers had been sounded out to move into the building, although a guarantee on continued healthcare services to local people would have to be made.

Ms Gordon-Pamplin said: “A community solution is possible, but it’s not going to be a BHB solution. We are looking for an alternative to make sure there is healthcare in the east end.

“The hospital says they don’t have the money to run it, but we want a facility which will cater to people rather than try to force people into a business model which is less than stellar.”

Earlier, around 100 people marched on the House of Assembly to present the Premier with a petition with almost 5000 signatures demanding the clinic stay open.

Mr Cannonier told the crowd: “I believe that in the process of this, there was no consultation and there was error in no consultation.

“As we move forward, we need to ensure that the east end is supplied with a unit which will meet the needs of the people.”

Ms Gordon-Pamplin said that she had always said that Government “would ensure that an alternative option will be implemented in order to ensure a medical service to the people of the east end.

“The centre will not close, but it will perhaps not operate in the manner it does now.”

The news was welcomed by St David’s PLP MP Lovitta Foggo, who organised meetings to protest at the planned closure and highlight the need for a clinic in the area.

Ms Foggo told the marchers: “The people have won today and remember the power is in your hands because you hold us all to account.”

She added: “I’m extremely pleased — we believe it was a wrong decision in the first place.

“There is no dollar that would ever equate to the value of human life, notwithstanding it takes money to operate things.”

And Ms Foggo said she was “elated” with the turnout for the march, but said the numbers would have been higher but for a Government announcement on Thursday that the clinic would stay open while alternative healthcare provision was looked at.

Ms Foggo said: “People are beginning to recognise the importance of their own voices.”