In December of last year, former KHMH stores clerk Delroy Herrera emerged as a whistleblower - alleging that there were abuses occurring at the hospital. He had a cache of thousands of computers files - and pointed to sourcing supplies from dubious companies and abuse of the KHMH's corporate credit card.
The Prime Minister ordered an audit by the Auditor General. That has been completed, sent to the KHMH for its review, but not released to the public.
We asked the Prime Minister about it 13 days ago - and here's his blustery comeback.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Let me cut straight to the chase knowing how much you slobber at the mouth in the hope of getting some sensationalist morsel in this context such as that there was a suggestion that criminal wrongdoing occurred and people will have to face prosecution. The auditor general made it absolutely clear that that was not part of her remit at all."
"And from what I saw, she is saying that there are ways in which some practices at the KHMH can be improved but found no kind of fundamental breach of any code of good administration and financial practice."
"Things like, there was a credit card that is able to be used by the CEO. The auditor general thought that the way of accounting for expenditures on the card needed to be improved. The way of sourcing: There are purchases that are made sort of sight unseen - and while KHMH explained that, well, ah, people won't sell you unless you pay money up front, the auditor general though that there were ways in which that sort of practice might be constrained if not eliminated. Things of that sort…."
"I will find out where they are, whether now, having discussed what she found with the KHMH she is ready to give me something that I can give to you, notwithstanding that it will not give you as much of a basis for delectation as 59:20 you would no doubt like."
Since then we have tried to get a copy from the Auditor General, who referred us to the Prime Minister - whose office we contacted at multiple levels - but have still not gotten a response.
We'll keep trying.
