Visit to new Port Kaituma Hospital… Minister disappointed with works on doctors and nurses’ quarters

Jul 18, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....and-nurses-quarters/

Works are still ongoing on the new Port Kaituma Hospital and Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, is not entirely happy. The Minister, following a recent visit to the Region One health facility admitted “we are a little disappointed with a few areas…the doctors and nurses quarters. We are having challenges with the contractors but those are matters we will deal with in the coming week.”

The Minister did not elaborate on the actions that are likely to be taken against the defaulting contractors.

However the ongoing works are not all disappointing as the Minister has also shared her satisfaction with all other aspects. “We are at the stage where we are happy with the performances of the other contractors…their works are about 80 percent completed.”

The Minister said, “We are going to make a few adjustments and that will be done by a team that will meet in the upcoming week so that we can ensure that we can put all the finishing touches.”

Included among the areas to be completed is the access road that leads to the hospital. But this too is taking favourable shape, thanks to support from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Minister Lawrence said. “I am happy to know that the Ministry of Infrastructure is doing quite a lot of work in terms of the road works that were promised to the residents of Port Kaituma.

“As a result of that we are hoping that we can work with them so that the other part of the road that leads to the hospital compound and the network of roads within the compound can be completed. We can do it intersectorially.”

According to the Minister, “It is our belief that we have a clear path now of where we are going and have a list of things that we need to get completed and so we will begin on getting those things done.”

The visit to the new Port Kaituma Hospital by the Minister and a team represents her third visit there since assuming the position of Public Health Minister earlier this year. The Minister had also previously instructed the visitation of a team to ensure that what is being built meets the specification and also that it is applicable to the services that the public health ministry is hoping to provide.

While the main building of the hospital was long completed by R. Bassoo and Sons Construction Company, it was revealed in April that the works being undertaken by six other contractors were lagging behind. The contractors were given three months to complete their respective works.

The contractors responsible for other aspects of the project are Alvin Chowritmootoo, N and A Constructions, Cummings Electrical, Satar Mohamed and Son Construction and Hardware Supplies, J. R. Edmondson Building Works and Integrated Works. The Supervisory Consultancy firm for the project is Kalitech Inc.

While Chowritmootoo is tasked with completing the mortuary and admin building, N and A Constructions, is responsible for the Infectious Diseases building. Cummings Electrical is tasked with the electrical works, Satar Mohamed has responsibility for construction of the nurses’ quarters and J. R. Edmondson has been contracted to construct the doctors’ quarters. Meanwhile, Integrated Works has been contracted to undertake some special installation works.

Visit to new Port Kaituma Hospital… Minister disappointed with works on doctors and nurses’ quarters

Jul 18, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....and-nurses-quarters/

Works are still ongoing on the new Port Kaituma Hospital and Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, is not entirely happy. The Minister, following a recent visit to the Region One health facility admitted “we are a little disappointed with a few areas…the doctors and nurses quarters. We are having challenges with the contractors but those are matters we will deal with in the coming week.”

The Minister did not elaborate on the actions that are likely to be taken against the defaulting contractors.

Would be of interest to know the details of the issues, which should have been addressed immediately when they started.