Illegalities in COVID-19 hospital deal will be investigated – VP Jadgeo

− says govt will not vacate the premises 

 

DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 14, 2020 

 

Vice President, Hon. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Friday, said the illegalities uncovered in the transactions surrounding in the Infectious Disease Hospital, will be thoroughly investigated by the PPP/C Administration. 

“We believe that a lot of irregularities and illegalities took place through this deal, and that will be fully investigated,” the Vice President emphasised at a press briefing.

He explained that following the change of Government, the owner of the former hotel, Mr. Jacob Rambarran, issued a demand for $65Million in rent for the past five months. 

“The individual, who claims he owns the land, stayed silent throughout the several months while the media was questioning what was happening with the hospital. Suddenly, within the new week of the Government, he sent a lawyer’s letter asking to be paid millions of dollars,” Vice President Jagdeo said. 

It was also disclosed that Mr. Rambarran requested that the Government vacate the building if it would not pay the rent of $13Million per month.

The Vice President, however, said the Government would not be vacating the premises because $1.6Billion of public monies were used on the building. 

He condemned the actions of the APNU+AFC Coalition Administration for spending billions of public funds on a hospital he deemed ‘useless’.

“They spent huge sums of money on this hospital, which is not equipped to deal with the pandemic, and will have to either undergo major renovation or equipping and retrofitting, and even that may not work,” he pointed out. 

 

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