“It’s all about health care, it’s not about who is to blame” – Hon. Skelton
This morning, June 7, 2012, Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie Skelton, Ministry officials and the project team, gave members of the media a tour of the six-storied health facility, which when completed will have 100 beds for patients.
Fielding question from the media on the project that is expected to be completed in another 15 months, Hon. Skelton stated that the air conditioned units that are now being installed will ensure "that safety needs of the patients are met". In addition to that, the windows have to be replaced.
Local firm James Todman Construction Ltd has been tasked with carrying out the corrective works – mechanical and electrical - on the hospital.
And while the Health Minister did not take the bait as to who was to blame for not monitoring project, he did tell journalists, “I live with a simple premise that things happen in the past and the most important thing for us is the health care of this country and I want to spend my waking hours concentrating and developing good health care to the people of the VI ...not to go back and try to say who is at fault and who is this, I have no interest in that part of the equation. I want to deliver the best health care possible for our people. It’s all about health care it’s not about who is to blame.”
CARIMAX’s services were terminated in April 2010 for its failure to fulfil several contractual obligations, including the provision of a suitable performance security and compliance with the employer’s instructions to remedy defective work.
Touching briefly on the issue, Hon. Skelton revealed that the company has submitted a claim which is subject to a legal opinion and until that is done “we are not going to say anymore about it.”
He added, “When things are in front of the court I think responsible people do the responsible thing and don’t say things that are just for the news. It just does not make sense because at the end of the day the persons that are going to pay the bill is the taxpayers and my job as Minister is to make sure that taxpayers pay the lowest bill possible and that I will do.”
As to whether or not Government will hold anyone accountable when the hospital is completed, Hon. Skelton diplomatically replied, “It’s always good to go back and learn from your mistakes and other people’s mistakes so it would not happen on the next project.”
Once completed, the new Peebles hospital will house three operating theaters, one surgical ward, a hydrotherapy pool, a cafeteria and a pharmacy, among other amenities.
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