But one thing he’s already taken lawyer’s advice on is the decision to add three people to the list of those who can approve entry of medical supplies. Â Previously, this was the sole domain of Chief Pharmacist, Sharon Anderson and Drug Inspector Dana El-Amin. Â El Amin retired in January of this year, and when he thought Anderson had gone on strike (but was actually on sick leave) he authorized three other persons to approve such entry. Â He explained why he did it:…

Dr. Peter Allen - CEO, Ministry of Health
"Our, the advice we received, the legal advice and the regulatory advice we received is that it is a risk to have only one person who can sign such entries. So on that legal advice we decided that we would add, not remove anybody, three other pharmacists, Ms. Danini Contreras, the Senior Pharmacist from the Central Medical Stores office, and the Drug Inspector who took over from the past Drug Inspector in January. We have sent that off, but I have not yet sent - as is required - specimen signatures to the Customs Department, so that those offices would subsequently be authorized. So, at the moment, only one person is authorized to sign these entries."

Alindy Marisol Amaya - News Director, KREM News
"When would it become effective that those other 3 would be able to start signing?"

Dr. Peter Allen
"Well, given the concerns that have been raised, I am going to double check with different advisors."

Jules Vasquez
"And that's the more serious allegation, sir, that you're actively trying to undermine the integrity of the supply of good pharmaceuticals in Belize by authorizing other persons, other than the Chief Pharmacist to do this."

Dr. Peter Allen
"Well, and I think I've pointed out that the other people, although they are not actually authorized to sign yet because their signatures have not been -"

Jules Vasquez
"But you may instrumentalize these people - no disrespect to them - but you may have more influence over them because we know there is antipathy between you and Ms. Sharon Anderson."

Dr. Peter Allen
"But the point being, and again, the customs entry forms are nothing to do with the quality of pharmaceutical supplies or medical supplies. Any question that anybody in the Ministry of Health is seeking to undermine the integrity of the process is utterly false. Any question that the Ministry of Health has any other objective than the safe and effective delivery of medications to all our people is utterly false."

Jules Vasquez
"Does not the scrutineer have to also check to maintain that the integrity of the overall supply system is maintained in every regard?"

Dr. Peter Allen
"And that is done and that hasn’t changed whatsoever."

Jules Vasquez
"But are you not - or the implication is - the direct allegation, accusation is that you are undermining that by taking this authority out of the person who is legally authorized to do so and putting it in the hands of others who may be open to your influence, or the Minister’s influence. I’m not casting aspersions but..."

Dr. Peter Allen
"We understand, and please remember that we have not taken away any authority from anybody. So, the list of 4 names has 4 pharmacists. Ms. Sharon Anderson is actually the name on the top, Ms. Danini Contreras, Ms Marietta Enriquez, who is the Drug Inspector, and Ms. Samira Gongora, who is the senior pharmacist at Central Medical Stores. This are for custom's entries."

Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"The post of Danini Contreras is temporary at this point, it hasn’t been regularized through the Ministry of the Public Service and yet, even before all that, before she is even confirmed, her signature is there. Once the Customs Department replies to you she will be able to sign Customs entries. Why the hurry to do that at this point?"

Peter Allen
"Well, the hurry is no longer there. The hurry was only because we had been told that Mrs. Sharon Anderson was unavailable." 

Our information is that the Customs Department will respect the names sent to it by the Ministry. Â The Director of Health Services Dr Michael Pitts, who is responsible for the Pharmaceutical Unit has confirmed that he was not consulted.