Caption: A screengrab from a viral video circulating on social media that showed a water leaking at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Port of Spain
By Chantalé Fletcher
A RUPTURED water line which flooded the Ministry of Health Headquarters early on Tuesday has been repaired.
This according to the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT) in a release on Tuesday afternoon.
But an opposition MP says this is another debacle of the People’s National Movement (PNM) government.
Videos swamped social media showing the water flowing from the ceiling of the building and creating a pool below in the building located at Queens Park East, Port of Spain.
UDeCOTT stated, “Routine maintenance works were being conducted this morning on a two-inch water line that is connected to the main line on the Third Floor in the Female Washrooms.
“After PVC fittings were replaced there was a rupture which caused an immediate gushing of water that resulted in some flooding.”
The maintenance team completed repairs to the water lines and janitors were engaged in mop up and cleaning efforts to have operations at the ministry’s headquarters restored to normalcy, the release sated..
PM must account to floods of $280M Building
Meanwhile Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as line minister of UDeCOTT to explain how the $280 million Ministry of Health Headquarters has been flooded out mere months after its completion and fanfare opening.
“Rowley must provide a proper explanation to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
This according to Oropouche East MP in a statement on Tuesday.
Dr Moonilal said he had raised serious questions as to the model used for this project and associated governance issues.
He said, “The flooding mess is another disaster by UDECOTT, which has presided over major construction problems at the Red House, the Central Block of Port of Spain General Hospital, and other public projects. The UDECOTT fiascos have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of precious dollars.
“This latest scandal is a further glaring indictment on UDECOTT’s Chairman Noel Garcia, whose previous tenure under the Patrick Manning Administration was equally disgraceful. Apart from the poor construction and waste, the Corporation has also been reckless and irresponsible with the public’s purse.”
he Oropouche East MP said, “Taxpayers will recall that when he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Enterprises Committee last November, Mr. Noel could not properly account for millions of dollars with respect to mega projects. This is the same State enterprise which misspent billions of dollars a decade and a half ago, leading to the appointment of the Uff Commission of Enquiry.
“The Commission’s 91 far-reaching recommendations were implemented by the Kamla Persad-Bissessar Government.”
He said, “The Corporation’s debacles of that era included an increased construction cost of Brian Lara Cricket Academy from $250 million to $1.25 billion. The Ministry of Health disgrace is an indication that, under the PNM, UDECOTT is continuing its poor project management, callous misuse of funds and blatant squandermania.”
