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Jules Vasquez reporting
The audit finds that Central Health Regional Manager Melinda Guerra, appeared to have knowingly submitted, approved and received the proceeds of four (4) reimbursement claims which totaled $3,407.50 for costs she claimed to have incurred in an official capacity. The auditors conclude we did not come across sufficient evidence to satisfy ourselves, that such claims were genuine or appropriate. They add that they were, quote, particularly concerned about the apparent intentional disguising and misrepresentation of key information on official payment documents.

Listed under unresolved reimbursements are events like this Reimbursement of $500.00 paid to the CHRM, Melinda Guerra, for purchase of food for CORE team meeting at SPP on 2nd May 2013, when food was already provided and paid for.

The auditors note that
"the receipt attached as source document stated that she paid for twenty-five (25) plates of food when the minutes of meeting showed that only thirteen (13) persons attended the meeting."

The audit also alleges that Guerra had gotten reimbursement for materials bought for the San Pedro Polyclinic when the clinic never received those items. Guerra said it was a prepayment.

The report also finds that the CHRM authorized irregular payments of $14,000.00, misrepresented as Golf Cart repairs.

It is alleged that the CHRM utilized funds from the recurrent budget to purchase a new golf cart under the disguise of repairs to an existing non-operational golf cart.

Unauthorized use of NHI Funds was a recurrent theme.
There is this: $1,400.00 paid from the NHI Bank Account for the CHRM's personal medical expenses, specifically for a colonoscopy test in respect of the CHRM, Melinda Guerra. The cheque payment was authorized by Ms. Guerra and approved by both Ms. Alexy Rosado and Ms. Melinda Guerra. Exhibit 15-A refers.

And then there's also
$6,000.00 withdrawn from the NHI's bank account managed by Matron Roberts Polyclinic, paid as prepayment for CHR's annual Christmas party scheduled for December 14, 2013.

And two ipads, written up as hard drives. The auditor says

2 hard drives that were requested and represented as received via Fultec System's tax invoice #38310 was a fiction and were not received.

And then, even the CEO and Minister got in on it:
Payment made to American Airlines for airline tickets from Belize to Chicago for the Minister and CEO Ministry of Health - $2,765.53.

1. We noted cheque payment made to American Airlines for the cost of airline tickets for the Minister of Health, Honorable Pablo Marin and the CEO, Dr. Peter Allen from Belize to Chicago departing on 4th August 2012. There was no supporting documentation or authority for the payment of airfare. The cheque was approved by Ms. Alexy Rosado and Ms. Melinda Guerra. Exhibit 41-A refers.

2. We are aware that foreign travel is to be approved by the Ministry of Finance and the payment of airfare should be centralized through that Ministry. Financial Order #439 (b) also states that where expenses are anticipated in excess of five hundred dollars $500.00, they become chargeable to the conference expenses subhead and shall have the prior approval of the Ministry of Finance before any arrangement involving their incurrence is made

3. Ms. Rosado explained that this was a request from the CEO, Ministry of Health. The CEO had informed her that they were going to Chicago to deal with the receipt of a donated ambulance. Ms. Rosado stated that the ambulance would not be for the Matron Roberts Polyclinic.

That was just a few excerpts - and we'll have more form the report tomorrow.

We stress that the persona named in the report have responded to the ministry of health professing their innocence - but the matter is before the public service commission and the ultimate decision is theirs.