Were the Saudi’s Consulted About Hospital Relocation?

As a public sector investment, the construction of the new Belmopan Hospital also falls under the purview of the Ministry of Economic Development. Prime Minister John Briceño heads that ministry. So today, when reporters caught up with Narda Garcia, the Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, she was asked if the project funders were informed of the decision to relocate the hospital’s construction site. She says that she does not know much about the process because her ministry works with private sector investments.

 

Narda Garcia, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Investment

“I do investment, but I do private sector investment. That is public sector investment. So, I am not very intimate with the process. I do know it is a Saudi loan and it is led by the Saudi people. I know the design of the hospital and all of that is through the Saudis that they are going to start the process for bidding for contractors. But, that is as much as I can tell you, because I do more private sector investment. Public sector investment is done by the Ministry of Economic Development.”

 

Reporter

“I thought since that falls under the Prime Minister’s portfolio you would know.”

 

Narda Garcia

“I know some. I know where it is, how much it is. The part of the process that have started, but I don’t know more than that.”

 

Reporter

“Obviously, people are questioning how is it justified that you spend four hundred and fifty thousand dollars per acre of land to move this hospital when you have free land.”

 

Narda Garcia

“I understand that Dr. Sabido was on Channel Five this morning and he is more technical to comment on the move. I learned the move from the media. So, that it as much as I can tell you.”