The quote by Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr—the more things change, the more they stay the same, is brought to the fore with revelations that the new government has entered into a “shady and secret” contractual agreement for the storage of drugs.
A contract was signed with a firearms company, Linden Holdings Inc. The company’s head office is located on Middle Street where Side Walk Café previously housed, but the bond is located at Sussex Street Albouystown.
On Monday, the National Assembly, while broken down into the Committee of Supply, vehemently questioned the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, on the matter. But the answers given raised even more questions, leaving the Opposition at a loss.
Yesterday, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)’s point man on health, Dr. Frank Anthony told Kaieteur News that the deal is deeply disturbing.
“There are a couple things fundamentally wrong with this entire deal.”
He said that based on his understanding there is no immediate need for storage space for drugs. Dr. Anthony said he understands that the Diamond bond—belonging to the government—has space
“There is no ‘emergency’ as the Minister so put it.”
The former Minister said that even if the government wanted to move from New GPC where it continues to store drugs, the switch could have been made in a more transparent manner, and in a manner that allows the government to receive the best possible offer.
Dr. Anthony pointed out that there has been no public call for space to store medical supplies.
He said that there was no public advertisement and because there was no advertisement for the apparent “need”, there could have been no public tendering.
“So they did sole sourcing, something that was to be brought to an end,” said Dr. Anthony.
Anthony said that he is yet to see the “big transparency” that the government has promised.
IS THE BOND SUITABLE FOR STORAGE OF MEDS?
Dr. Anthony then turned his attention to high possibility that the bond is not up to the standards required for the storage of drug and medical supplies.
The Member of Parliament said that there seems to be no proof that the bond has been certified fit for use in the manner that the Ministry has decided to use it.
“From all indications, the environment is not fully conducive for the storage of drugs, despite the Minister telling us that it is,” said Dr. Anthony.
When questioned in Parliament as to whether the bond is certified, Norton answered in the affirmative. First he said that local representatives of PAHO and WHO visited the facility and approved of the standards. Subsequently he admitted that that job is not for PAHO and WHO, and said that the bond was certified by officials from the Ministry of Health.
Despite the fact that the Food and Drug Analyst Department falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health, it is not to be mistaken for the Ministry of Health. The body functions independently.
Yesterday, Dr. Anthony said, “The Ministry is not a certifying agency and if the Ministry certified the facility (the bond) it would be a breach of the law and an inherent conflict of interest.”
He explained that by law, the Food and Drugs Administration is supposed to be the certifying body and only that body can do an inspection to make sure that the bond is up to standard.
Dr. Anthony said that if the bond was certified, then a certificate would have been issued to be presented if ever needed.
But above all Dr. Anthony questioned, “How can an unfinished bond get certification?”
He regarded the matter “a serious one” saying that there was a breach of agreement, the law, a breach of public trust, and a breach of the APNU+AFC’s promise to do away with sole sourcing
“Not only did they sole source, they sourced a man with no expertise. What is so special about him? “
Dr. Anthony said that storing medications at an environment that is less than conducive can be very harmful and will result in further waste of money. “The drugs will most likely be spoilt, then what?”
Dr, Anthony said that there seems to be an absence of a desire to get value for money. He said that rent and a security deposit have already been paid yet the facility is not complete and the government is still to get use of it “so why begin paying rent.’
The Member of Parliament also pointed out that under the previous agreement that the government had with New GPC, half of the rent money used to be paid by the Ministry while the other half was paid by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. He said that since Norton failed to make it clear, Opposition Members of Parliament are left to wonder if the hospital will still be paying – which will mean the government will be paying even more money than was announced on Monday.
The former Minister said that the best way out of this would be for the government to rescind the contract and go to public tendering.
On Monday, the National Assembly was given little detail about a contact that the Ministry of health entered into with a firearms company—Linden Holdings Inc. for the storage of medical supplies.
The bond is unfinished but the government has already advanced $25M. It will be paying the company $12M per month. Linden Holdings Inc has no medical background and from all indications the bond, located in Sussex Street, is not FDA approved.