The surroundings at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) have been earmarked for rehabilitation in keeping with the city's efforts to boost its appearance in time for the Cricket World Cup (CWC).
According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) President Bharrat Jagdeo discussed this issue with the GPHC's Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan during his visit to the facility on Christmas Day. Facilities Director Parmanand Samaroo said enhancement plans for the hospital will be conducted in three phases as part of a major upgrading of the facility scheduled for between March and June. However, in time for the CWC games, all of the buildings in the northern and southern sections of the hospital compound will be washed and repainted and the fences renovated in the first week in January. Additionally, internal and external drains will be de-silted and external parapets will be spruced up. Samaroo said tenders for these projects have already been awarded as well as tenders for waste collection and disposal at the facility's main site for this function at Thomas Street. The bins at this site will also be replaced with locked bins.
Samaroo said the three buildings which house the male and female surgical departments, at the junction of Lamaha and Thomas streets will be the first to be upgraded and the Seaman's Ward and the Lady Thompson section demolished to facilitate the construction of new in-patient wards. The surgical buildings will be given a face-lift as they are currently occupied. Plans are also in train to make the area which housed the old Accident and Emergency building into a temporary, large car park for the hospital's staff. GINA said at present work is ongoing to raise and upgrade the avenues near the hospital in keeping with the city's CWC enhancement activities.