The National Trust is trying to get an explanation from the Ministry of Health about the current status of the former New Amsterdam Hospital, Chairman of the National Trust Dr James Rose said.
Asked what was being done by the National Trust to preserve the historical building that was identified as a heritage building by the National Trust, Dr Rose said the old hospital building was still being managed by the Ministry of Health, even though it was identified a heritage building for preservation.
Expressing concern about the state of the building, which the Stabroek News featured in its March 31, 2008 edition, he said that some time ago, the National Trust had written to the Ministry of Health about the building and the response received was that the ministry “still had use for the building.” Noting the state of affairs as reported by this newspaper, Dr Rose said, “We are trying to get an explanation out of the ministry at the moment” because the National Trust was very concerned about the building. He advised that this newspaper speak to the Ministry of Health about it.
On Friday and Saturday, Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, was unavailable to give an update on the building since he last spoke with this newspaper on the issue in late March when he said that the ministry was transforming it into a nursing school and dormitory but funds were still needed to complete the process.
In the March 31 edition of this newspaper, it was reported that the picturesque old building was being vandalized and vagrants were using it as a hideout. Vandals reportedly removed materials such as plyboard and sliding doors that were used with the intention of transforming it into a nursing school and dormitory after the medical and clinical operations were shifted to the new location in November 2004.
Dr Ramsammy had said that he had no reports of materials being vandalized and that security guards were protecting the property.
The hospital is described as “a timber architectural masterpiece that was designed by world-renowned architect, Cesar Castellani in 1881 and officially opened in 1884.”
A brief history of the hospital states that an extension which started at the western end of the building in 1925 and was completed in 1926, served as the tuberculosis ward on the bottom flat and the maternity wing on the top flat.
The first x-ray department was established in 1928 and another opened in 1966. The nurses’ dining room and a small laboratory were built in 1932 and further additions were made in 1950. The water system was improved in 1952.
The hospital’s operations were shifted in 2004 and President Bharrat Jagdeo officially opened the new New Amsterdam Hospital building, built with Japanese grant aid, in 2005.
