ATTORNEY General John Jeremie yesterday slammed the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) government for spending $1 million, including “cheese paste and champagne”, to open the Central Block at the Port of Spain General Hospital before the facility was equipped for basic services.

Jeremie was speaking in the Parliament during the Government’s motion to adopt the report of the Standing Finance Committee.

He claimed the PNM had attempted to mislead the country about the delivery of services, including the Central Block. Jeremie said at the time of the opening ceremony (March 2025) the facility held a certificate of practical project completion. He said this meant that the actual completion was still “somewhere in sight”. Jeremie said three quarters of the previous Cabinet attended the opening ceremony, which had cost around $1 million.