EHS AMBULANCES

United National Congress (UNC) Chairman Senator Wade Mark’s argument that the former UNC Government purchased second hand ambulances for the country’s Emergency Health Service (EHS), because of limited resources, is an insult to the intelligence of citizens.

How could a member of the former UNC administration plead a lack of funds for a service as vital as the EHS, which to its credit it had created, when the final cost of construction of the Piarco International Airport project, which it undertook, was reportedly more than double its original figure of  $600 million. And as we recall there had been no mention then, no pleading of “limited resources.”  And what of the cost of electricity supplied to the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission’s grid by Inncogen, which, according to the terms of the contract, had to be paid for whether or not it was needed?

Why was the argument of the country’s “limited resources” not applied, if not to the go ahead for the Piarco Airport project, then at least to seeking to holding down, what would turn out to be the largest cost overrun for any Government undertaking in the country’s history? In turn, why was it not made clear to taxpayers, when the relevant ambulances were ordered, that the Government had found  itself in a position in which it could only have purchased second hand vehicles because it was too cash-strapped to do otherwise?
Are we to read into Mark’s statement made during the debate in the Senate on amendments to the Pharmacy Board Act, that the UNC Government may have found itself in the unfortunate position of having to acquire other second-hand stuff because of “limited resources”?

Why did the former UNC administration not seek the assistance of the UNDP as the People’s National Movement Government is doing today with respect to procuring 40 new right-hand drive ambulances for the Emergency Health Service? Why was it necessary for the UNC Government, not merely to purchase second hand ambulances, but 55 which were left-hand drive as well? Minister of Health, Colm Imbert, in announcing Cabinet’s decision to acquire the ambulances, pointed out that the 55 foreign used ambulances had, because they were left-hand drive, raised questions of safety. In addition, there had been problems with respect to obtaining spare parts, as well as the high cost of maintenance. Is it that the United National Congress Government, realising that the country needed an Emergency Health Service simply took taxpayers for a ride, and a “left-hand” one at that? Does Senator Mark realise how incompetent he makes the opposition look when he makes statements such as these?