Dental Hospital probe continues

At a media briefing at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) yesterday, Colin Bissessar, acting chief executive for the NCRHA, told reporters that the human resource department of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) was assisting. (The NCRHA has not yet established its own human resource department). He said vice-president of the NWRHA human resource department, Peter Osborne, would be conducting a "proper investigation" and liaising with the internal audit department. Asked why no disciplinary action had been taken regarding the money which disappeared, Bissessar said, "any action to come" will be carried out by the human resource department.

Meanwhile, Health Minister John Rahael yesterday said he was unaware of the missing $50,000, but said the ministry has received written assurance from the NWRHA that employees’ taxes — Pay As You Earn and National Insurance — were being paid. He said the NWRHA was "current" with respect to the money which was owed to the Board of Inland Revenue. In February, Newsday reported that the Regional Health Authority was investigating the circumstances of the missing $50,000. The incident took place last year and a report was submitted by a Dental Hospital worker in November.

Newsday was reliably informed that a file on the case has been with an official of the human resource department, but no action had been taken.