Gopeesingh: No wrongdoing at NWRHA

FORMER North-West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh, yesterday denied there was corruption in the award of contracts to HTI Limited and Optimum Energy Technology (OET) under the former UNC government. Gopeesingh confirmed that certain aspects about Rahael’s statements were correct — such as the duration of the HTI and OET contracts being five and ten years respectively. However, he said said there was no wrongdoing in the award of those contracts. Gopeesingh said he is compiling information on the contracts and plans to host a joint news conference with former Health Minister Dr Hamza Rafeeq to address the issues raised by Rahael.

A source said this news briefing is likely to be held on Wednesday at Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s Port-of-Spain office and representatives of HTI and OET will be invited to give their side of the story. One medical source claimed the HTI contract was a lifesaver in 2000 because neurosurgeons at PoSGH complained about exorbitant costs being charged at the EWMSC for CT scans. The source claimed the $500,000 paid to HTI would have been  made back within nine months under the joint venture with the NWRHA. The source also said “hundreds of thousands” of lives were saved because of the HTI and OET contracts — including babies at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital.