And while the Prime Minister doesn't accept the SPEAR poll, he does accept that government has an arrangement with the new owners of Universal Health Services. That's news because up until the deal was outed last week - the government's official position was that the deal was strictly between the Belize Bank and the hospital's new owners. But now, "story change": there is the guarantee of a revenue stream of $300,000 a month to the new owners. And 7NEWS has confirmed that the first $300,000 was paid yesterday - whether services were received for that, we can't say. Sounds to us like another take or pay arrangement - but today the Prime Minister disputed that interpretation.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"The debt has been paid, whether it's thirty odd million or forty million. What it is was, it is completely paid off. The government guarantee has been released, has been cancelled and we have, yes, entered into an agreement, a memorandum of understanding whereby we are providing fees for up to $300,000 a month. Yes they want to bloat that to call it $3.6 million for the year. Call
it what you want, that is the limit to the extent of government's commitment if you like."
Jules Vasquez,
It is a take or pay situation. Even if you don't use it you have to pay at least $300,000.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"That is not my understanding. My understanding is it will be a fee for services."
Janelle Chanona, News 5
"Why not seek public approval or at leas take it to the public first to say we are considering this, what do you think, knowing it has been a hot button issue?"
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Well a government is there to govern and we can't wait to provide health services to people, 'til we have further consultations and then how do we determine, have a referendum you mean on that issue?"
Janelle Chanona,
"No I mean just seek public approval."
Jules Vasquez,
Take it to the National Assembly.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Well we do intend to take it to the National Assembly if it has to go beyond one year. We are fully cognizant of what the law says, that anything over a $5 million commitment requires the approval of the National Assembly. We are saying that for the first year the government had the authority, I had the authority to give that commitment for the $3.6 million. Obviously the next government, and I believe it will be our government, will take this matter to the National Assembly for approval if necessary because the present thinking is that it may be required for up to five years."
Today's Amandala reports that the agreement was signed last and it is for five years. The paper cites opinion which states that under the law it was required to be out to tender but was not. The Amandala also quotes Financial Secretary Joe Waight who characterizes it differently. He says that government does have to pay the $300,000 every month but the amount that isn't used is carried forward and credited to its account. Our sources confirm that government paid $300,000 yesterday and $70,000 was paid earlier in the month.
