A GENERATOR set which was budgeted for since 2015 as a matter of emergency for the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two is still to be purchased by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The revelation was made on Monday when the Region’s Officials led by the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). According to the Auditor General’s 2015 report, the “region did not achieve its anticipated level of capital expenditure activities in 201 5 by $65.6M or 23.3%.”

Though two of the primary projects were re-budgeted and completed in 2016, Hopkinson told the PAC, chaired by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali, that the generator set had not been acquired although, a cheque was “cut” since December 2016.

Initially, the REO sought to lay the blame on the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). “Unfortunately, the generator was an NPTAB project and we did not get the approval but they have asked us now to resubmit,” Hopkinson said in his defense.

In responding to a question posed by Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, who sits on the PAC, the REO told the Committee that a cheque was cut for the purchase of the generator but has not been returned to the consolidated fund, although the purchase was not made. The generator was budgeted at $10M.

Although the requisite approval had not been granted by NPTAB, the REO said he was advised by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary to sole-source the generator given the urgency of the matter.

“I remember that I personally went and get the quotation from MACORP,” Hopkinson added, while maintaining that he was acting on the advice of the Permanent Secretary.

Ali, told Hopkinson that he had breached the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. Bishop Juan Edghill, who also sits on the committee, argued that given the fact that the Region’s expenditure had been consistently low, Hopkinson and team tried to increase its expenditure by attempting to sole source the generator.

But Hopkinson argued that the option of sourcing was selected because it was a matter of emergency and MACORP is the most “reputable” source of generators. “In view of the urgency, I was advised to go to MACORP,” the REO maintained. “You had a budget that was approved by this House for the acquisition of a generator. In your capital project you did not advertise for this generator to be procured. In December while your project is underperforming, you sought to get the money out of the system to improve your performance, so you opted for sole sourcing…Everything against the law,” Bishop Edghill rebutted.

He added there was no urgency. Edghill was backed by Ali who said, “It could not have been an emergency because the generator is still not supplied!”

But Public Health Minister informed the PAC that there is an urgent need for the generator. “As far as I know, this generator is needed at the Suddie Hospital. While there is a generator in place, it is not adequate enough to take off the load of the hospital. So this particular item is an emergency…for the hospital,” Minister Lawrence stated.

Minister Lawrence said provisions had been made for the purchase in 2015, and subsequently re-budgeted for in 2016. “I was told that the generator was ordered,” she added.

Although, Hopkinson had sought to lay the blame at the feet of NPTAB, but he had no written documentation to show that a request had been made to NPTAB or that NPTAB had indicated that approval was not granted.

Based on the responses given, Minister Lawrence advised that the cheque be returned to the Consolidated Fund and the proper procedures be followed to allow for the sourcing and acquisition of the generator.

The PAC chair reinforced that because of the slothfulness and irresponsible attitude displayed by the REO and team, operations of the Suddie Hospital is being affected. Ali noted too that although the Region Two officials had appeared before the PAC before, he like the other members, is dissatisfied with the region’s accountability level and is looking to see marked improvements in the future.