Caption: Christlyn Moore
By Alicia Chamely
THE Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) is disputing claims made by Tobago House of Assembly (THA) minority leader Kelvon Morris that over $17 million was spent to procure ambulances that are not suited for Tobago.
On 3 June, Morris held a press conference at his Scarborough office, where he demanded THA Health, Wellness, and Social Protection Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor resign, citing alleged misconduct in the procurement of the ambulances.
He said, “I am calling for the immediate resignation of the Secretary of Health on this matter, where $12 million in cost overruns procuring ambulances after two years.”
Morris said, “So, on this matter, based on some evidence I have of impropriety and malfeasance, I have penned a letter to the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau, and I have also copied our acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin requesting a criminal investigation into the TRHA ambulance procurement scandal dubbed AmbulanceGate.”
In response to Morris’s allegations, TRHA Chairman Christlyn Moore and TRHA CEO Dr Delmon Baker sought to dispute Morris’ claims of cost overruns and purchasing ambulances not suitable for Tobago at a press conference on Friday, held at the Roxborough Hospital, Tobago.
Moore said the purchase of ambulances was a high priority, as before 2023, Tobago only had between one and four ambulances working at any given time.
She explained two rounds of tenders went out with Biomedical Technologies Ltd (BMT), winning the bid. Other companies that placed bids included Massy Motors, ANSA Motors and Toyota.
Moore said BMT was the only company that could provide complete ambulances, rather than retrofitted panel vans and fulfilled all timelines, specifications and warranty policies.
Baker, who presented the contract and payment schedule, noted the total cost of the ambulances was $16,605,000.
The first payment to BMT was on 9 August 2023 for $2.5 million and the last payment was 4 September 2024 for $2,767,500.
He noted to date only $10,387,500 has been spent.
Moore said contractually, should the ambulances not work or prove to be unsuitable, they can be returned and the money refunded.
Adding they were under a three-year warranty, with an option to extend the warranty.
Both Moore and Baker said there was nothing untoward with how the contract was given, with Baker stating that everyone is welcome to view the TRHA’s website where all of their tenders are posted or they are free to use the Freedom of Information Act if they want more information.
On Friday, Morris put a statement to his Facebook page, saying, “Today, I will be travelling to Trinidad to deliver a formal complaint to both the Acting Commissioner of Police and the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) regarding the AmbulanceGate scandal.”
Later in the day, he posted a video of himself outside the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Headquarters, Port of Spain.
In the video clip, he said, “I can now confirm that I have delivered letters of complaint calling for an investigation into the ambulance scandal, to both the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau and the Commissioner of Police. Both have assured me that this matter will be thoroughly investigated. As a matter of fact, at the ACIB they have already doing preliminary investigations and therefore you can be rest assured, Tobagonians, no matter the amount of gimmicky and games, we will unearth the truth with respect to those ambulances.”
