The Government of Guyana (GOG), through its National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) has plans to modify the building that once housed the Ocean View International Hotel on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) to be used as a “dedicated” COVID-19 medical facility.
“We have looked at a proposal for a dedicated hospital, and we’ve identified a building in the immediate vicinity of the city and the East Coast [of Demerara]…The Ocean View – or what use to be the Ocean View Hotel – and work is now going on there to make that into a dedicated facility for the incubation, or for isolation, or quarantine or medical attention of persons who have been confirmed positive of having the Coronavirus Disease,” the Chairman of the NCTF, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said this afternoon.
The facility will house 300 beds, which will be provided to critical patients.
The Guyana Standard understands that the World Health Organisation (WHO) made the recommendation for the facility to be set up.
Nagamootoo thanked the WHO for making recommendations both technical and material.
The PM said that the task force has also been examining other buildings with hopes of converting them into facilities. One of these include the former Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GNBC) building on High and Princes Streets, Georgetown.
That contentious building was once deemed uninhabitable after an audit revealed damning issues with the structure. When the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) was struggling to stay afloat, calls were made to the government to have the building sold so that GFC can retain millions of dollars it had invested in the construction of the property.
Nagamootoo said that an examination is being done to see if the entire building, or sections can be used in some way.
If all checks out, the PM said that it, too, will be a dedicated COVID-19 institution.
The current political situation in Guyana has placed several restrictions on the government. The results for the March 2 General and Regional Elections have been further delayed following back-to-back litigation. As a consequence, the government cannot resort to the National Assembly.
With the government now eyeing the renovation of buildings and the possible procurement of medical equipment, access to adequate funds will pose a challenge.
However, the PM said that the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, has provided an “overview” of “possible” sources of funding, which will be elaborated upon at the level of the NCTF.
