KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition Spokesman on Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Dawes is urging the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) to provide transparency regarding its contract with The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) for the digitisation of electronic health records.

The significance of this contract has been heightened due to recent events involving The Phoenix Partnership’s owner, Frank Hester, who has been embroiled in controversy following racially abusive remarks directed at UK Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott.

“Hester’s unacceptable comments have sparked widespread condemnation and demands for accountability, including protests urging that the millions in political contributions made to the Tory Party be returned as well as calls for the National Health Service to cancel their TPP contracts,” a statement read on Monday.

The statement added that the MOHW and the Government of Jamaica on the other hand have been silent on the matter.

“To add insult to injury, the fact that Hester does business in Jamaica has been used by Lord Marland as ‘proof’ that Mr Hester cannot be racist. That the government of Jamaica is allowing its dealings with Mr Hester to be used as a rebuttal to the activism of black Britons, the diaspora and their supporters is an egregious offence against our proud history of the struggle against oppression,” the statement said.

It explained that beyond the moral objections to conducting business with an overt racist, there are serious concerns surrounding the procurement process of the contract. The initial Request for Proposals invited tenders for a US$2.4m contract and yet the contract signed with TPP was valued at US$5 million.

“We are asking for clarification as to why there was a variation of over 100 per cent at a time when the MOHW is facing questions as to how the Cornwall Regional Hospital project has seen cost overruns costing taxpayers 20 billion dollars up from 2 billion dollars,” Dr Dawes said.

“Additionally, the MOHW is still unable to account for how more than $400 million was spent during the COVID19 response and is one of two ministries fingered by the Accountant General as not being able to explain adequately how $1.3 trillion has been spent. The other ministry being the Ministry of Education under the watch of former minister, Ruel Reid,” he added.

Dr Dawes also emphasised the urgent need for the ministry to address both the moral and financial aspects of this issue.

“The lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable, especially considering the scrutiny from both the international community and Jamaican taxpayers,” Dr Dawes said.