Moonilal wants explanation on stalled reconstruction of Central Block of POSGH

Home*Cover Story*News

Moonilal wants explanation on stalled reconstruction of Central Block of POSGH

Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling on the Prime Minister to explain why taxpayers must now pay an additional $110 million to complete the now-stalled reconstruction of the Central Block of Port of Spain General Hospital.

Moonilal, in a statement on Saturday, said the PM, Dr Keith Rowley, must also provide the pertinent facts on the decision of Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) to withdraw from the project and whether he knew of SCG’s departure from the assignment when he responded to a question asked by Moonilal in Parliament in January.

Moonilal said the public must remember that early in this administration, the Urban Development Corporation of TT (UDeCOTT) was moved from the Ministry of Housing to the Office of the Prime Minister, then hours after a key financial arrangement with Global Finance was signed off.

He said, “There are many unanswered questions following the media conference held by UdeCOTT Chairman, Noel Garcia, on the eve of the long weekend when many people’s attention was focused elsewhere.

“Mr Garcia did not offer the reasons for SCG’s withdrawal, nor did he state whether this was prompted by money concerns.”

Moonilal said, “SCG is one of the world’s premier construction and engineering corporations, worth more than US $6 billion, and would not take a commercial decision to walk away from a contract without compelling reasons.”

He added that “Mr Garcia’s half-baked statement did not inform taxpayers of the official reasons for the decision and what were the unresolved issues after conciliatory meetings between both parties.”

The former Housing Minister said, “The refusal of SCG to reconsider its decision, despite repeated pleas from UDeCOTT, is a deeply disturbing matter. The entire issue demands full and timely disclosure from the Prime Minister.”

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 0
DISQUS: 0