Members of the National Parliament have instructed the National Development Agency (ADN) and the Health Ministry to follow up on the progress of the Baucau Referral Hospital which has been under construction for four years by Portuguese company Ensul.
Member of Parliament Manuel Castro said Ensul abandoned the project a year and a half ago.
“I am calling on the ADN and Health Ministry to ask why the project has been running for four and half years, but is still unfinished,” he said in Parliament.
The member of Commission E (for infrastructure, transportation and communication) said the ADN and the Health Ministry last year extended the contract until May 2014.
He urged the government to take this problem seriously and put pressure on international companies to fulfil their obligations.
He said there was a double standard when it came to local and international companies.
“When projects by local companies are not to standard, they are demolished but when international companies abandon their projects for years there are no consequences,” he said.
Ensul had proven itself incapable of handling government contracts as it had repeatedly failed to complete projects, he said.
The company is responsible for the Taroman bridge project which was scheduled for completion in March but is still unfinished.
Deputy Health Minister Natalia de Aroujo said the construction project was being overseen by KAFI, a high level commission which was directly answerable to the Prime Minister as it was responsible for large amounts of government money.
Member of Parliament Ilda Maria da Concencao said the construction delays had serious health ramifications for community members.
The old hospital was no longer in a condition to provide health services as when it rained, water leaked into wards, she said.
