Georgetown: Works on the prospective COVID-19 hospital at Ocean View will produce one of the first specialised health facilities in the Caribbean to cater to patients of epidemics, Former Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon said on Thursday.
“In a very short space of time, we will have an A-1 facility where we can be able to say to the world that this is what we are doing for Guyanese who are affected by COVID-19,” he said during a media briefing at the Civil Defence Commission.
Because of the urgency needed to address the pandemic, the government has been given clearance by the owners of the former Ocean View Hotel to proceed with construction works that will see the birth of the new COVID-19 hospital.
The facility will house 300 critical patients once it is operational. According to the DG, “the financial arrangements are still being worked out.”
Other facilities that will be used to treat COVID-19 patients include the Guyana National Gymnasium, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and the building in the compound of the former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation on High Street, Georgetown.
However, there are growing questions now over the decision by authorities to use the Ocean View International Hotel as a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients.
Reports indicate that works (labour and materials) are estimated to cost approximately G$600 Million and it’s a complete rehabilitation of the building, including roof, ceiling, floorings (both first and ground), electrical (with a backup generator and air conditions), plumbing, drainage, fencing, landfilling, and landscaping amongst others.
But, this cost doesn’t include retrofitting of the building with beds, ventilators, operating tables, lights, and anesthesia machines.
Further, it is alleged that there is a rental agreement for G$22M per month.
Questions have risen about why is it the government investing such a significant sum in a private property; why other hospitals were not used for expansion; why such a location on the windward side was considered amongst others questions.
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