A heated debate unfolded in Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives as Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe and Diego Martin North/East MP Colm Imbert clashed over a $100 million budget allocation for the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility (CHMTF). The dispute occurred during the Standing Finance Committee’s deliberations on October 23, which aimed to approve a $7.04 billion budgetary allocation for the Health Ministry. Imbert questioned the significant funding for the CHMTF, which the opposition UNC plans to rename the Couva Children’s Hospital, while noting the absence of allocations for hospitals in Arima, Point Fortin, and Sangre Grande. He criticized the government for what he termed political discrimination, arguing that hospitals built under the former PNM administration were being neglected. Bodoe defended the allocation, stating that the Couva hospital had been neglected under the PNM and required substantial investment. He highlighted issues discovered during a post-election visit, including underutilization and non-functional medical equipment. The debate also touched on 515 vacancies in the Health Ministry, with Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo attributing the issue to the previous PNM government. Imbert further questioned the allocation of $16 million to pay lower-level employees at the North West Regional Health Authority, suggesting potential inefficiencies. The session grew contentious, prompting Speaker Jagdeo Singh to call for order. The exchange underscores the ongoing political tensions and challenges in Trinidad and Tobago’s healthcare sector.