Rahael denies ambulance breakdown claims

HEALTH MINISTER John Rahael has dismissed claims by former Health Minister Dr Hamza Rafeeq that six of the seven new ambulances given to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have already broken down and all will be out of service within six months. Rafeeq made the allegation while addressing a UNC public meeting in Chaguanas on Monday. Rahael told Newsday he had spoken with South-West Regional Health Authority chairman Imitiaz Ahamad, who informed him that Rafeeq’s allegations were completely unfounded. 

The minister said he asked Ahamad to give him a comprehensive report on the operational status of the EMS’ ambulances. Rahael also rejected Rafeeq’s claims about impropriety involved in an agreement between Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to supply 40 brand new ambulances to the EMS. The agreement was the culmination of an initiative started by Rahael’s predecessor (and current Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister) Colm Imbert. Rahael said additional ambulances for the EMS have arrived in TT and these will soon be handed over to the EMS.