Nipdec fired from hospital project in Scarborough

Controversy continues to plague the Scarborough hospital project, as Nipdec has now been removed from the project following a row with principal contractor NH International over project costs. During a press briefing yesterday, Health Minister John Rahael was unwilling to talk about the decision to remove Nipdec, and Prime Minister Patrick Manning would only say that further details on the decision would be made available soon. The Scarborough General Hospital project has been steeped in controversy since Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh accused Housing Minister Keith Rowley of siphoning materials from the project for the Landate project in Tobago. Justice Annestine Sealy was appointed by Manning to head a Commission of Inquiry into the allegations against Rowley, but the issue has recently been placed on the backburner.

According to a report, Ganga Singh, MP for Caroni East, has said the issue had been swept under the carpet leading up to the THA elections. He said he was waiting to see if architects would also be fired before the Commission of Inquiry begins. He added that he was interested to know if Nipdec would be removed in favour of Udecott on the project. Sources indicated that Rahael is yet to meet with Nipdec to formally inform it of its removal.