Govt wants ‘interests’ in Children’s Hospital

He made the announcement delivering the feature address yesterday at the People’s National Movement (PNM) public rally held at Eddie Hart Grounds, Tacarigua.

He was responding to a United National Congress advertisement in yesterday’s newspapers with the claim that the Couva Children’s Hospital remained unopened.

Rowley said a construction site was opened for the last election (under the previous administration) and they had to wait until the end of July this year for the contractor to hand over the Children’s Hospital.

He pointed out that the hospital exists 20 minutes from the Children’s Hospital at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope and there were no doctors and no nurses to staff the hospital. He reported the hospital had gone out for public expressions of interest locally and internationally and they would evaluate proposals “to make a choice what goes in those buildings”.

He also responded to a claim that they had stopped construction on the Arima and Point Fortin hospitals.

“They paid money to print that lie in the papers today,” he declared.

He said a contract had been awarded for the Point Fortin Hospital under a government- to-government arrangement and to a contractor without any competition. He reported that there had been no agreement between this government and the government of Austria.

He further reported the current administration had no loan available and had to find money from the current account.

Rowley said when the month comes the Finance Minister, Colm Imbert, struggles to pay public servants’ salaries because they have to pay contractors.

He reported that work was continuing on both the Point Fortin and Arima hospitals.

He also commented on the claim that the Children’s Life fund had been halted. Rowley said the fund was worth $55 million and encouraged people to apply.

He added, however, they were conducting an audit “of the money they thief ” but the fund continues.