THA buys $2.7M property for Health Division

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has bought a property for $2.7 million at Union Trace, Whim, for the Division of Heath.

This was revealed by Health Secretary Dr Agatha Carrington in response to a question for oral answer by Minority Councillor Dr Faith BYisrael at last Thursday’s THA plenary at the Assembly Chamber, Jerningham Street, Scarborough.

BYisrael asked Carrington to say whether the Division had purchased any property on or after January 2017, and to state date and number of Executive Council Minute authorising the purchase, describe the property and state its cost, give the date cheques for payment were issued and who were the payees, and what was the current status of the property.

Carrington replied:

“The date and number authorising the purchase is January 18, 2017 by Executive Council minute #41. The description of the property - Mr Carlton Romeo, Lot #2 Union Trace, Whim Tobago; 10,075 square feet of land with a floor space of 6,675 square feet; the total cost is $2.7 million.

“Current status of the property, the Division of Heath, Wellness and Family Development is in occupancy and no new structures have been erected.”

No information was forthcoming on what this building is being used for. The head office of the Division of Health and the Social Services Department were relocated from its Glen Road offices in December 2017 to new rental premises at the Habib Building, 107 Wilson Road.

To another question from BYisrael, Carrington asked for more time to provide a response, and requested that it be provided by the next sitting.

BYisrael want the Health Secretary to state the number of contract workers who have reached retirement age of 60 on/before December 31, 2017 and were still on contract, and those who reached age 60 by April 30, 2018 and have been told their contracts will not be renewed. She also wanted to know the number and categories of contract workers who will turn 60 after May 1, 2018 but before December 31, 2019.

BYisrael referred to Sections 55.2 (Compulsory Retirement) and 55.3 (Employment Beyond the Normal Retirement Date) of the Tobago Regional Health Authority’s (TRHA) Human Resource policies and procedures in seeking answers.