Tufton bemoans cost overrun on projects
FORT CHARLOTTE, Hanover — Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton has warned that contractors who fail to complete projects on time, and properly, will be penalised.
The minister made the comment on Thursday while at the same time bemoaning the number of unfinished projects he inherited when he took office in 2016, to include five bio sewage treatment plants.
“I am saying to all of us, including myself as minister, that this is not acceptable. We are short-changing the clients, the patients, the taxpayers. And, so the way forward requires us to ensure that if we commit, we commit with reasonableness in terms of time and achievableness, and that those who are given the responsibility to complete, they must complete,” stated Dr Tufton.
“I am going to insist that penalties be included in contracts when they are awarded for contractors to either finish on time or bear the burden of the losses incurred because of overtime,” the health minister continued.
The minister, who described the situation as unacceptable, pointed out that in the case of the sewage plants, there were cost overruns and substandard work being produced by contractors.
The five treatment plants designed by the Scientific Research Council (SRC) were started under the former People’s National Party Administration.
Dr Tufton made the disclosure during a ceremony held for the handing over of a waste-water treatment system and official opening of the health department building, the refurbished ward, accident and emergency department, and commissioning of the minor operating theatre at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover.
Dr Tufton said that the five treatment plants went beyond the contracted stipulated cost of almost $40 million and in two cases, 15 months beyond the due date. He said that in St Thomas, that project had to be cancelled due to substandard work.
In Hanover, Dr Tufton said that sewage project went 15 months over the allotted completion time and placed a cost of 12 to 15 per cent more on the budget.
“Don’t act. We are supposed to be time-sensitive and target-sensitive. When I became minister of health, I must tell you I was appalled by the number of unfinished contracts that were splintered around the country at various institutions. When I came to this one (Hanover) there were couple, frankly speaking, including the sewage treatment facility,” disclosed Dr Tufton.
The list also included the headquarters of the Hanover Health Department, which was partially destroyed by fire in 2014.
In 2013, Cabinet had approved a sewage treatment contract of $420 million to the SRC.
A ministry of health strategic business plan, 2015-2018 identified six hospitals and health centres for attention under phase one of the programme.
Among the six to use the new the SRC, BST Technology are: Princess Margaret Hospital in St Thomas, Savanna-la-mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, Noel Homes Hospital and Lucea Health Centre in Hanover, Ulster Spring Health Centre in Falmouth, Percy Junior Hospital in Manchester, and Fellowship Health Centre in Portland.
The Noel Holmes Hospital and the Lucea Health Centre in Hanover share the same sewage plant.
The remaining institutions were to receive attention under phase two of the project.