Local Government Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan says the National Development Centre for Persons with Disabilities project will be delivered $647,732.97 under budget. He made the comment yesterday in response to allegations levelled by interim Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner that the construction of the centre had skyrocketed to $36 million in cost overruns.
The final figure for the project stands at $14,877,997.97, Rambachan said yesterday as he addressed a media conference at the project’s Carlsen Field, Chaguanas, site. Rambachan, the line minister for Community Improvement Services Ltd (CISL)—the company managing the project—described Warner’s accusations, which were made during a political meeting last week, as “very wild allegations.”
“There were no cost overruns on this job,” Rambachan declared as he commended the contractor, Super Industrial Services (SIS,) for delivering the project under budget. The centre is scheduled to be opened next week. Rambachan, joined by Minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh at the project site, said the initial budget for the CISL-controlled project was $15.525 million.
However, he said: “The job actually cost $14,877,997.12. This job was done under budget to the sum of $647,732.97.” He said the project “is an example of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Government of T&T of managing projects within costs and within budget.” Rambachan said there were two components to a building, the actual physical building and the outfitting costs of equipment, et cetera. He said the building costs were under budget, but the outfitting costs for the building were still being calculated.
The minister, armed with his figures, said the job for the centre included a contingency amount. The contingency amount, he explained, was used for the specific purposes of site preparation at a cost of $63,000, delays claims ($41,000), a structural steel ramp ($366,000), additional water connection ($50,000), a capital contribution for electricity connection ($242,000) and $743,000 in variations. He explained that even with those costs, the building was still under budget.
Rambachan also defended using SIS. He dismissed allegations that SIS was being favoured for contracts. “We do not have any favourite contractors,” he said. “People are given the opportunity in open competitive bidding to bid for projects at CISL (et cetera) and through the Central Tenders Board. If people pre-qualify and they are able to do the job and they satisfy the requirements, as well as the financial requirements, then they are awarded the contracts.”
Ramadharsingh, addressing the media, said he was pleased with the building. He said it was a “dream come true” and the culmination of eight months of discussions with 14 disability groups in T&T. The centre, he explained, will cater for most disabilities and provide therapy rooms so patients from long distances in south Trinidad will not have to journey to Port-of-Spain for treatment. He said the building will be manned by ministry staff, but it is hoped that the centre will be taken over by a disability organisation.
CISL CEO Raees Patel said construction began in mid-November 2012.