Three more witnesses testified today at the inquiry into corruption
at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. It was another short day - lasting just
under two hours but it was perhaps one of the most remarkable with testimony
from the hospital’s present Chief Executive Officer Francis Gary Longsworth.
He minced no words and went directly after the leadership of the Belize Medical
and Dental Union. Keith Swift has the highlights.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Miriam Coleman, the Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services was the first
to take the oath this morning. She was followed by Merlene Myvett, a registered
nurse who is the assistant manager of the Central Sterilization Unit. In her
testimony, Coleman says she was surprised when the hospital stopped purchasing
vegetables from Julian Chell.
Adolph Lucas, Commission Chairman
“Were there any complaints with respect to the supplies delivered
by Chell?”
Miriam Coleman, Supervisor – Food & Nutrition Services
“No we had no problems with the 
supplies that were delivered by Mr. Chell.”
Adolph Lucas,
“Do you find it surprising why they changed from Chell to somebody
else?”
Miriam Coleman,
“Yes I found it very surprising.”
The third witness was KHMH CEO Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth. But before taking
questions from the commissioners, Longsworth –who is himself a medical
doctor - read a prepared statement in which he came out swinging against the
Medical and Dental Union.
Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth, CEO – KHMH
“Dr. John Sosa, President of the BMDU when given the opportunity yesterday
to testify to this commission and substantiate his allegations which he made
in June, came up woefully short by failing to produce a single shred of evidence
of any wrongdoing by this administration.”
But more than just condemning, Dr. Longsworth was also accusing. He says that
if there was any wrongdoing – it was on the part of the doctors.
Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth,
“Mr. Carlos Perrera, the present Director of Finance, has in his deposition,
exposed an entrenched system of special arrangements, insider business, improperly
documented transactions and conflicts of interest which existed prior to March
of 2008 when the new board was appointed.
Certainly the BMDU Executive who rallied their members to protest knew
that Dr. Guerra and Dr. Roberts were conducting business with the hospital.
Certainly they knew that Mr. Mansu sold materials to his own department from
his own company Pharmacol Limited. So why then did the BMDU wait until June
2009 to go public with unfounded allegations against the new board and administration
to try and have us removed?
There has been notable resistance in certain quarters, both within and
outside the hospital to these attempts at change and this has given voice by
the BMDU, many of the members having been naïve participants in the protests
in June with no knowledge of the hidden agenda for a return to the status quo.”
Longsworth’s statement ran for close to 45 minutes during which he addressed
7 issues ranging from the hospital’s vehicle fleet, the quality of supplies,
and importantly the price of pharmaceuticals which the hospital bought from
the open market.
Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth,
“Dopamine was subsequently purchased in March of 2008 from De La Fuente
and from Union Distribution on 7th April 2009 at prices at prices of $4.55 and
$3.75 respectively. Both of these were considered fair market value and they
are much cheaper than the previously purchased dopamine in May of 2008.”
And speaking of fair - was it fair for De La Fuentes Pharmacy to receive the
majority of the contracts from the KHMH? That’s what the Commission Chairman
asked.
Adolph Lucas,
“That De La Fuente is the highest supplier with $227,362.63. The closest
one to that figure is Pharmabiz with $102,172.01. So try to rebut my conclusion
that De La Fuente is a favourite supplier.”
Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth,
“From my point of view it is a coincidence that De La Fuente is our
major purchaser because we purchase on a competitive basis and the fact that
they are able to supply so many of our goods and items competitively is just
a matter of circumstance.”
Reporting for 7News, Keith Swift.
Dr. Gary Longsworth used today’s national audience to plead to
government not to cut the hospital’s subvention. He noted it could have
serious consequences. Longsworth says that in general, the KHMH only collects
half of what it bills. The hearing continues on Friday. We can’t tell
you who the witnesses will be because they haven’t been summoned as yet.
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