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The government is bracing itself to face a multi-billion dollar lawsuit over the construction of the 150-bed May Pen Hospital in Clarendon back in 1997.
Addressing a Jamaica Labour Party Area Council Three meeting in the parish on Sunday, Health Minister Ruddy Spencer said the lawsuit started out as a $36 million cost overrun on the construction of the facility under the previous administration.
"The then government refused to pay the $36 million overrun. As we speak, it was arbitrated on in Nassau, Bahamas because we were sued for $8 billion ... we have the report," said Mr. Spencer.
He added that if there is no agreement between the government and contractors "Construction Developers", within the next six weeks, the independent arbitrators will decide how much the government will have to pay.
$70mil upgrade
The Health Minister also used the occasion to announce that the government had begun a $70-million refurbishing project at the hospital which was damaged during Hurricane Ivan.
The May Pen Hospital was built under the hospital restoration project of the previous People's National Party administration.
It was the first hospital to be built in the country since the Cornwall Regional in 1971.
Addressing a Jamaica Labour Party Area Council Three meeting in the parish on Sunday, Health Minister Ruddy Spencer said the lawsuit started out as a $36 million cost overrun on the construction of the facility under the previous administration.
"The then government refused to pay the $36 million overrun. As we speak, it was arbitrated on in Nassau, Bahamas because we were sued for $8 billion ... we have the report," said Mr. Spencer.
He added that if there is no agreement between the government and contractors "Construction Developers", within the next six weeks, the independent arbitrators will decide how much the government will have to pay.
$70mil upgrade
The Health Minister also used the occasion to announce that the government had begun a $70-million refurbishing project at the hospital which was damaged during Hurricane Ivan.
The May Pen Hospital was built under the hospital restoration project of the previous People's National Party administration.
It was the first hospital to be built in the country since the Cornwall Regional in 1971.