Justice of the Supreme Court Adolph Lucas, former Auditor General Orvin Nicholas, and former Principal Nursing Officer Julia Castillo were sworn in as Commissioners for the KHMH Commission of Inquiry this morning at the Supreme Court in Belize City by Senior Magistrate Dorothy Flowers.
They have been tasked to look into the affairs of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) during the period from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009, with respect to the procedures and practices related to the procurement of medical supplies and equipment, in an effort to determine whether those procedures and practices were followed, if there was corruption and/or mismanagement in such procurement and who is responsible, if anyone, among other things.
After the swearing-in, the Commissioners and the man who commissioned them earlier this week, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, sat down for a round of questions from the press.
While the inquiry will be conducted publicly, as directed by the Prime Minister, no concrete decision has been made on whether it will be broadcast live by the local television stations, as the DFC Commission of Inquiry was.
When asked, Justice Lucas said he and his fellow Commissioners were “leaning toward” doing so, but emphasized that the decision would be reached between them, together.
Other matters to be decided include how many meetings would be needed and where the Commission would meet.
On the matter of the independent audit to be conducted concurrently with the Commission, the Prime Minister reported today that the plan to tender a contract for a private auditor to conduct the audit would be scrapped in favour of having the Audit Department, led by Auditor General Edmund Zuniga, conduct the audit instead.
Zuniga, said Hon. Barrow, had indicated that he was ready to start “as soon as next week,” a relief for the Prime Minister, who pointed out the time and expense it would take to secure an auditor from the private sector.
Between them, the Commissioners have decades of experience in the Public Service, and Justice Lucas told Amandala that it is that experience which will be their primary weapon in fulfilling the terms and conditions of reference as outlined by the Prime Minister earlier this week.
Nicholas was recommended for the Commission by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and Castillo by the Ministry of Health.
Justice Lucas told the press that despite losing much of his vacation from the Court, he was eager to start the process “as soon as possible.”