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PUP Want Full Disclosure on Proposed NHI Funded Project
posted (August 5, 2019)

Last week we told you all about the NHI surplus funds, which the CEO in the Ministry of Health and the Minister of Health were trying to get set aside for a new 1.6 million dollar medical stores building in Orange Walk.

Well, after they got a “no-objection: letter from the Ministry of Finance, the Prime Minister stepped in to stop them cold.  On. Thursday, he wrote a letter to the leader of the opposition, saying, quote, “in my view, and especially in the current circumstances, the (Ministry of Health) ought not to make any such application (for those funds).  And then on Friday, SSB CEO Dr. Colin Young told us that Social Security was never approached about the use of NHI funds. 

So, that should put that matter to an abrupt halt, but the PUP isn’t satisfied with that; the opposition wants answers.  A press relase, says, quote, “The Prime Minister MUST instruct his Health Minister and Health CEO to immediately explain their actions to the nation…Pablo Marin and George Gough MUST explain how and why they planned to raid NHI reserves without authority.â€￾  End quote. 

The PUP alleges that the contract was earmarked for a UDP friendly contractor, the relative of a minister.  The party further alleges, quote, “If a concerned person from the Ministry of Finance had not leaked the MEMO authorizing the contract…the use of the $1.67M from NHI funds would have been a done deal.â€￾  From what we have learned about how those funds are administered, that is hardly the case, since the Social Security Board controls that reserve fund - and had not even been approached, much less signed off.    Still, the PUP ends its release by saying, quote, “We need answers NOW!â€￾




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