Accountant says funds were not used for earmarked projects…
The hospital’s current Accountant, Shevan Fairweather, also gave testimony. She also shed light on previous evidence that monies that were specifically earmarked for repairing and purchasing of equipment were used instead for supplies. She said she was directed to make one of those payments amounting to seventy thousand dollars to Best Medical Supplies.
Shevan Fairweather, Accountant, K.H.M.H.
“I think it was last year, if it was not late last year it was early this year that representatives from Venezuela came and I was asked to put together the payments that we made out of the monies that we received. We had received three hundred thousand, as far as I could recollect, for the rehabilitation of medical equipment and seven hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of medical equipment.”
Orvin Nicholas, Commissioner
“So you said you were aware of this after the fact?”
Shevan Fairweather
“Yes sir. I knew of the monies because I was the person that received the cheques from Treasury, deposit it to the cashier and I would keep the voucher copy that I would usually have and file them off. So I knew of the monies, but the purpose I do not know what it was for.”
Orvin Nicholas
“So how do these supplies fit into any of those two categories?”
Shevan Fairweather
“Sir, I don’t know. I was given a directive to pay this seventy thousand dollars advanced payment toward this amount of supplies.”
Orvin Nicholas
“Based on the description, how could you justify medial supplies, pharmaceuticals from that?”
Shevan Fairweather
“Sir, I cannot justify that. I was given a directive, like I pointed out. I cannot justify it. I did not know it was a Venezuelan grant. I knew what the vouchers had said, the purchase of the vouchers.”
Justice Adolph Lucas, Chief Commissioner
“And you say the rehabilitation and purchasing of medical equipment.”
Shevan Fairweather
“Mhmm, rehabilitation of the equipment and purchasing of the equipments.”
Adolph Lucas
“Hence you are saying you cannot justify it because of the purpose that you have seen.”
Shevan Fairweather
“Mhmm.”
Orvin Nicholas
“Was this instruction in writing or…”
Shevan Fairweather
“No sir, but the evidence would be the approval of the payment.”
Adolph Lucas
“Who approved that?”
Shevan Fairweather
“Mr. Knowles.”
