Gov’t will not take laid back attitude with contractors – Minister Norton

[www.inewsguyana.com] – In an effort to ensure value for money and timely delivery, the Ministry of Health is closely observing ongoing works at the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex at Oronoque, Region One.

When completed, this hospital will be fully equipped to serve the residents of the Martakai Sub-District, easing the burden of them having to travel to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, or the main referral hospital in Georgetown.

During a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton disclosed that “the Coalition Government will not sit back and let contractors do what they want”.

Referring to the Kato Secondary School, Minister Norton noted that when the school is completed, it will perhaps be one of the most expensive to be built in the Caribbean. This was due to persons being allowed to do what they wanted with no visits, Minister Norton said.

“This will not happen under this Government. With the Port Kaituma Hospital, my Permanent Secretary and the engineers visit there ever so often…we don’t want to go in Mountain Foot in Region Eight and see just the foundation of a health centre that has been there for years and nothing is happening. We don’t want to see a hospital in Kato that has never been used. We have to go on the ground and see what is happening,” Minister Norton stressed.

The aim is to make the Port Kaituma Hospital into a model for other hospitals in Region One. While he couldn’t give a date for completion, Minister Norton said that works are progressing smoothly.