Cost factors ‘beyond our control’ in Cornwall Regional Hospital project – Holness
ST JAMES, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that the estimated cost to complete the Cornwall Regional Hospital rehabilitation project is likely to increase again due to the costs of goods on the world market.
Holness made the statement while touring the facility in St James over the weekend, noting that the price of inputs necessary for the project were outside of the government’s control.
“In terms of the cost, there are factors beyond our controls. First of all, there is global inflation, which we have to worry about. And 90 per cent of what will populate this hospital is equipment, and technology is imported. So, we couldn’t give you an undertaking about holding the price is fixed,” explained Holness.
The prime minister encouraged workers on the project to move with alacrity, warning that delays can also result in higher costs.
“What we don’t want is for the prices to increase because of our inefficiency,” said Holness.
“What it means for us therefore, is that the faster we move, the better the prices will be. So that is clear for us, one thing is clear. And I must say this, not just about this project, the longer we wait to do projects, the more expensive they will become. Do the projects now- that is a general rule that I live by. I try to move as fast as possible to get the projects… Do them now, because if you wait, it is not just inflation but movement in technology, movement in expectations, and other elements of construction and design become added,” he added.
In early March, Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton announced that the estimated cost for the project increased from $10.5 billion to $14.1 billion.
The rehabilitation of the Cornwall Regional Hospital has been ongoing since 2017.