IsDB cancels financing of AMC-SU: Government has no clear answer

The government has no clear answer for losing the financing for the construction of the Academic Medical Center Suriname (AMC-SU). Legislators and in particular the members of the opposition have launched a barrage of questions regarding the issue. Labor Minister Soewarto Moestadja, coordinator of the government team in parliament, explained that the government first wants to launch an investigation to determine what went wrong. Parliament reportedly gave the government two weeks to produce answers. Legislators were scheduled to discuss the problems within the nation’s health sector but the AMC-Su issue overshadowed all other problems. “The government has already launched an investigation into the AMC Suriname issue,” said Minister Moestadja in response to all the questions. He added that “this implicates that we still can’t answer all of the questions thoroughly.”

Minister Moestadja made it clear that appropriate measures will be taken if it becomes clear that the committee that was tasked with the preparations is to blame for this blunder.

The members of the opposition expressed grave concern regarding the future of the nation’s health sector now that the financing of $70 million for the construction of the ambitious hospital has been scrapped. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) reportedly is not content with the performance of the AMC committee. The work was being delayed and the design of the hospital does not match the promises that were made with the IsDB.

“The minister of Finance has been appointed governor at the IsDB. Now the minister of Finance is pointing fingers and saying that heads must roll. What is the role of the minister of Finance as governor at the IsDB? What must he do? Why did the IsDB pull out of the deal aimed at financing the construction of the AMC? How many designs were made?” After MP Mahinder Jogi (VHP) had asked these questions, he made it clear that the government must produce answers within the next two weeks.