K.H.M.H. inquiry reveals more goods bought at inflated prices

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, testimonies at the ongoing Commission of Inquiry are revealing more irregularities. Two witnesses appeared today before the Commission looking into the purchasing of supplies at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital between the period January 2008 and June 2009. The audit report, presented by Deputy Auditor General, Wayne Simon, in late November at the beginning of the investigations, disclosed that the hospital was purchasing at inflated prices. There were more revelations coming out today from the presentations that coincided with the audit report. Delroy Herrera, the hospital’s Acting Supplies Manager was first to give his testimony. He appeared flustered at the start, but by the end of his testimony he was composed. One of his most startling revelations was over the purchase of vegetables. Herrera told the Commission that an order was given by the Director of Finance, Carlos Perrera, to change to a much more expensive provider.

Delroy Herrera, Ag Supplies Mgr., K.H.M.H.
“Vegetable is provided by—before it used to be Mr. Chell and then now it’s provided by Mr. Williams. He is a guy from Orange Walk. The only thing that we have been having a complaint on is the vegetables.”

Orvin Nicholas, Commissioner
“Quality? Stale?”

Delroy Herrera
“Sometimes, they would not say stale but they would say that the pricing is higher than before.”

Justice Adolph Lucas, Head of Commission of Inquiry
“Why shift from Chell to another producer?”

Delroy Herrera
“That wasn’t our call to change from the supplier. We just got a—Mr. Carlos Perrera told us that we were to get items from Mr. Williams and we were supposed to send the purchase order to him.”

Justice Adolph Lucas
“Was any reason provided?”

Delroy Herrera
“No sir.”