Current and former UHWI CEOs fail to appear before PAC over audit findings

The current and former chief executive officers (CEO) of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) failed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday as lawmakers continued their examination of troubling findings raised in a recent Auditor General’s report into the hospital’s operations.

Former board chairman Wayne Chai Chong also did not attend the meeting, with the committee stating that he had indicated he was overseas and would instead be available to appear on May 12.

PAC Chairman Julian Robinson said current CEO Fitzgerald Mitchell had informed the committee through the hospital board chairman that he would not attend on the advice of his lawyer. However, Robinson said no written explanation or legal advice was ever submitted to the committee despite requests from Parliament.

“The current CEO, Mr Mitchell, had sent a message through the chairman of the board that he would not be attending on the advice of his lawyer. We asked for that advice to be provided to the committee, and we have received nothing at this point in time,” Robinson said.

He also noted that former CEO Kevin Allen, who had earlier indicated that he would attend the sitting, was absent from Tuesday’s proceedings without a clear reason or explanation.

Robinson told members he viewed Mitchell’s failure to appear, coupled with the absence of any formal explanation, as a serious matter given the nature of the audit concerns now under parliamentary review.

“Now, I find, particularly related to Mr Mitchell, his absence and the absence of any formal documentation indicating why he’s not here, to be contemptuous of the PAC and the Houses of Parliament, given the very serious issues that have been raised in the Auditor General report, and given that he is the chief executive officer of the hospital,” Robinson said.

The PAC has been reviewing issues raised in the Auditor General’s report involving the UHWI, after several questions remained unanswered during previous meetings with the PAC.

During Tuesday’s sitting, Robinson referenced provisions of the Senate and House of Representatives Powers and Privileges Act, which gives parliamentary committees authority to order individuals to appear before them and provide evidence.

Opposition Member of Parliament representing Manchester Southern, Peter Bunting, supported the committee taking stronger action, arguing that legal advice alone should not exempt someone from appearing before Parliament.

“There are situations where a person summoned to give information can claim that they have a right against self-incrimination. That usually only arises in the case where some police investigation or prosecutorial investigation has arisen. But even so, they would then come and claim they should appear and then claim that right, or they’re advised that they can’t answer that question because it could be self-incriminating. But to just not appear and ignore the first request and then the summons, I think it would be contemptuous, as you said, and would require some action,” he said.