Rafeeq calls for probe into hospital project

THE Scarborough Hospital project was again yesterday raised during the Budget debate, this time by former Health Minister Hamza Rafeeq who called for a forensic investigation. He said there appeared to be no ac-countability on the project and something “fishy was going on,” predicting that its construction would be another big scandal. Rafeeq said last year $39 million was allocated for the hospital’s construction, but under this year’s revised expenditure, no allocations were listed for the project.

He said if the project was being funded “off budget,” Government should say so, as well as provide details on the contracted cost of the hospital, how much money has already been spent, and what works has been done. He said in light of the allegations made by Caroni East MP Ganga Singh on Thursday, “A forensic investigation should be carried out into the project.” Rafeeq suggested the hospital would be of a poor quality and would be “three times the budgeted price it was estimated to cost.” Focusing on the construction of the Oncol-ogy Centre, Rafeeq said it would also be another “major scandal.” He charged that the contract was awarded to the same firm which did the feasibility study for the project, “and without tender which is inexcusable.”