Akash Samaroo
Senior Reporter
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
The newly appointed Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) chairman has identified the Couva Children’s Hospital as a priority project for the new board.
Attorney-at-law Shankar Bidaisee said Udecott is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the hospital to determine the state of the equipment and “reconcile against the appropriate asset register to determine the extent of the equipment and number of beds removed from the hospital.”
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has pledged to fully reopen the facility.
The Couva Children’s Hospital was officially commissioned on August 14, 2015, just before the general election.
After the People’s Partnership government lost that election, the incoming People’s National Movement (PNM) government did not immediately commission the hospital. This led to a period of contention and criticism regarding its incomplete status, lack of staffing, and absence of essential facilities like a mortuary or incinerator.
In 2018, the hospital was renamed the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility and there were plans to make it a teaching hospital run by the University of the West Indies (UWI).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was part of the parallel healthcare system.
Figures vary regarding the overall cost of the facility, but it is said to be in the $1.5 billion region.
Bidaisee said Udecott will also focus on Whitehall. Persad-Bissessar has yet to operate from her office there. Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarath said the building is unfit for use.
Refurbishment of the building was spearheaded by the former PNM administration at a reported cost of $32 million. Recently, Padarath said it would cost an additional $4.5 million to improve Whitehall.
Bidaisee said: “I am informed that significant work has been done to Whitehall over the years and at significant cost. This board will first require a thorough review of the building to determine its suitability, the works done thus far by the contractor(s) and whether there was value for money, what work needs to be done and the cost of doing same. This is ongoing and will be given due priority.”
Asked about the future of more than 100 ongoing projects on Udecott’s portfolio, including the San Fernando Waterfront Re-Development Master Plan, Elections and Boundaries Head Office and the Ministry of Social Development Assessment Centre and Temporary Facility for Socially Displaced Persons, Bidassie said the Government will decide on the way forward.
“Of course, the board’s priority would be to assess all ongoing and planned projects against national priorities and feasibility and advise accordingly,” he said.
“One key project is the Couva Children’s Hospital, which unfortunately has not been fully or at all operationalised for the past ten years.
“Udecott is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the hospital to determine the state of the equipment and reconcile against the appropriate asset register to determine the extent of equipment and number of beds removed from the hospital.”
Bidaisee said the board will also review the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan of Udecott which was approved by the previous board.
He explained that this will be done to ensure “optimum efficiency, accountability, adherence to leading practices in transparency including procurement, stakeholder engagement, value for money and to ensure that its national physical infrastructural development portfolio translates into overall national socio-economic development for the people of T&T.
“Detailed reports are being prepared by management to inform the Board of the status of the corporation’s projects, finance as it relates to, inter alia, Udecott’s investments, debts, receivables, other assets and compliance with regulatory frameworks including any fines and penalties and outstanding audited financial statements. Upon the completion of an in-depth review of what has been happening between 2015 to present Udecott will provide a report for public review through the appropriate channels,” he said.
Asked what expertise he brings to the State entity, Bidaisee said he’s no stranger to Udecott.
“I have been sitting on statutory bodies for approximately 15 years to present so I am very aware of the framework within which a board ought to function. I sat on the board of Udecott for five years between 2010-2015.”