Norton sent to Privileges Committee
Minister of Health, Dr George Norton
Minister of Health, Dr George Norton

PUBLIC Health Minister Dr. George Norton has been sent to the Privileges Committee of the National Assembly for misleading that august assembly on the multi-year contract the Public Health Ministry had signed with the Linden Holding Company for rental of the Sussex Street Bond in Georgetown.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, made the ruling on Monday after a motion was brought against the Public Health Minister by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament Dr. Frank Anthony. In making the ruling, the Speaker told the House that the motion is in order, a prima facie case has been made out against the minister, and the matter would therefore be referred to the Privileges Committee for attention.

During examination of Supplementary Financial Paper No. 1 on August 8, 2016, Minister Norton admitted that the Government had entered into a multi-year rental agreement with a new company – Linden Holdings Company – in regard to storage of pharmaceutical and medical supplies. However, the Public Health Minister had misinformed and misled the National Assembly – acts to which he has admitted and for which he would have since apologized — but the PPP had made it clear that his actions were unacceptable and he would be held responsible for them.

In bringing the motion before the House, Dr. Anthony recalled that Minister Norton had repeatedly misinformed the House, and by extension the nation, when he told Parliamentarians on both sides of the House that the bond was acquired as a matter of urgency, and the procurement process was accordingly not adhered to in respect to the selection of Linden Holdings Company.

Dr. Anthony recalled that Dr. Norton had also told the House that the newly-rented storage facility was certified in keeping with international standards set out by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO); that he had visited the facility on several occasions, and that pharmaceuticals and medical supplies were already being stored there.

The PPP Member of Parliament also alluded to the Public Health Minister saying that the cost to rent the space was cheaper than what the Health Ministry was paying the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company. However, “the minister was unable to enlighten the House as to the nature of the emergency which required another pharmaceutical bond, and one in particular to be based in Georgetown when there is adequate space at the Diamond Government-owned bond as well as (at) the Georgetown Public Hospital.”

He reminded that the Public Health Minister had not only admitted that there was no public tending, but had said that he had visited the facility on numerous occasions and had found it suitable for storing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Further, he had declared that the bond was already being used for storage purposes.

NOT SO
“This was found to not be so,” Dr. Anthony told the House, pointing out that “published photographic evidence illustrated, on August 8th and days after, that this was an empty residential building of less than 6000 square feet, which was devoid of any facilities required for a fully equipped and certified pharmaceutical bond, as claimed by the minister,” Dr. Anthony elaborated.

He noted that the House was informed that $25M had already been paid in rental and security deposit for the period July to August 2016, as provided for in the Supplementary Financial Paper No. 1 of 2016; although, on August 8, the building was empty and was not in a position to store any medicine or other medical supplies, as was claimed.

“The Minister of Health when questioned, misinformed the House with regard to the cost of the rental of bond space at the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (NGPC) at $19M per month; when, in fact, under the PPP/C Government, the bond was provided free of cost; and according to the Supplementary Financial Paper No 1 of 2016, the cost of the rent for NGPC Bond for the months of March (to) June 2016 was $9.6M per month,” the PPP Member of Parliament stated.

He added: “The minister, in doing so, deliberately attempted to justify the cost of the rental for the Sussex Street property, owned by the Linden Holdings Company, at Gy$12.5M per month; and in doing so, misinformed the House.”

Dr. Anthony maintained that contents of the three-year contract with Linden Holdings Company had contradicted statements made by Minister Norton.

Days after misleading the National Assembly, Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton issued an apology to President David Granger, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Members of Parliament, and the nation as a whole.
“In the circumstances, I wish to express my sincere and profound regrets,” Dr. Norton had said.

Amidst heckling from the Opposition, the Minister of Health had said, “I take fully the responsibility for this unfortunate episode,” as he committed to non-recurrence of the provision of inaccurate information.

Minister Norton had, on August 8, told the House that a contract was signed with Linden Holdings Incorporated, owned by one Larry Singh, to rent the storage bond on Sussex Street in the City for $12.5M a month. He had said that the first month’s rent was handed over along with an additional $13 million, which the minister said was for a security deposit. The terms of the contract stated that the agreement may be terminated with due cause by either party 12 months ahead, once notice is provided in writing.

But the Ministry of Public Health had agreed to pay to the owner of the bond the sum of thirty-seven million, five hundred thousand dollars ($37,500,000) , representing two months’ rent in advance together with the equivalent of one month’s rent as a security deposit, which would be refunded at the end of the tenancy minus deductions made by Linden Holdings for all or any damages occasioned by the Ministry of Public Health.

According to the contract, the Ministry of Public Health is also responsible for maintaining the aesthetics of the premises; paying the monthly utilities on the premises, which include the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT); and making its own arrangements for security of the facility.

The contract has since been placed under review for further determination.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.