As we showed you, Health CEO Peter Allen was also at the closing Ceremony, and we took the opportunity to ask him for an update on the inquiry into the misappropriation of public funds at the Southern Regional Hospital.
The Auditor General has found that a sum of just over 366 thousand dollars was embezzled from the hospital's Maternal and Child Health account. Hospital Administrator Nasley Sommerville has been implicated, and she's under scrutiny from the Public Services Commission and the police department. CEO Allen told us afternoon that he's been trying to find out from Dangriga Police why no criminal charges have been brought against her:
Reporter
"In relation to Nasley Sommerville, can you give us an update? We understand that she was expected to be criminally charged by police but she hasn't. Can you say if you know why not?"
Dr. Peter Allen, CEO - Ministry of Health
"I don't I'm afraid. I actually try to contact the police in Dangriga just yesterday, but we were unable to contact them. We will be trying again today and tomorrow and will be happy to give you an update as soon as we know exactly what's happening."
Reporter
"Anything in relation to the public service commission having arrived at a decision?"
Dr. Peter Allen, CEO - Ministry of Health
"As far as I am aware the public service commission has not yet heard the case."
Daniel Ortiz
"Have you any idea as to what's taking so long for criminal charges to be brought against her because the auditor general's report seems to be implicating her in quite a few things?"
Dr. Peter Allen, CEO - Ministry of Health
"My understanding, but really it's just my understanding of the particular case is that the concern of the director of public persecution was to make sure that if anybody else was in involved or may be responsible that that would be covered at the same time."
6 weeks ago, the Commissioner of police told us with certainty that Sommerville had been charged. He was wrong.
Email
Print