THE Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday called on Health Minister Horace Dalley to intervene immediately to put an end to what it termed a “climate of intimidation” prevailing at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

The party’s spokesman on health, Dr Kenneth Baugh, called on the minister to facilitate audits authorised by the CEO, Stephanie Reid, and to act decisively to preserve the integrity of the institution.

“I have been informed that political posturings are in the mix to establish political connections and authority,” Dr Baugh told a hurriedly-called press briefing following yesterday’s meeting of the House of Representatives at Gordon House.

It was recently reported that disagreements between the board of directors of the hospital and Reid had led to her offer of resignation. The CEO has, in the meantime, requested the intervention of the auditor-general and the contractor-general to probe the procurement procedures at the hospital.

Baugh told reporters that the resignation of a professor of outstanding reputation, who has served the institution for over 30 years, as well as the offer of resignation of the highly trained and experienced CEO, was of concern to the party and needed full elucidation.

“Ripples of fear and concern have spread through the board and administrative staff, when it is alleged that an officer came under pressure to bypass well-established procedures for the award of works, and/or contracts in relation to the hospital,” he said.

The opposition spokesman said his party condemned what it described as “recent initiatives” to politicise the board of the hospital and alleged that there were moves to manipulate the award of contracts for works and procurement of supplies and services.

He alleged, too, that it had come to the attention of the party that “long-standing structures and traditions which served the purposes of probity and transparency, as well as critical linkages with its umbrella institution, the University of the West Indies (UWI),” were being eroded.

According to Baugh, the bursar of the hospital – who had served as chairman of the finance and general purposes committee of the hospital board for decades – was allegedly replaced by a government appointee who was also an employee of a construction company with connections to a member of the new board.

He said that consequently, the CEO, who was called and informed of the situation, while in India recruiting nurses, on her return, called in the auditor-general and the contractor-general, an action which, he added, was felt to be overdue, in any case, and which the JLP entirely supported.

“I take this opportunity to point out to the minister of health the general concern of all Jamaicans, that we live in a climate overtaken by overwhelming corruption and cronyism much too evident in recent revelations in connection with institutions unrelated to the hospital,” Baugh said.

He added that the accreditation and credibility of the hospital, as a training ground of the highest standard, was of utmost importance to the medical profession, institutions and services, throughout the Caribbean.