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St. Joseph Hospital Report Laid To Rest

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Submitted by Micro Mock Engineer

President of the Senate, Dr. Branford Taitt
President of the Senate, Dr. Brandford Taitt

$3.5 million later, here are the main findings of the St. Joseph Hospital inquiry:

  1. Project was not brought before the Planning and Priorities Committee
  2. Main contractor was paid $2.9 million without a formal contract
  3. Main contractor simultaneously provided building services at hospital project and Minister’s residence
  4. No final account prepared by the contracted quantity surveyors
  5. Hospital recruitment decisions made by Ministry rather than hospital board
  6. No one guilty of any wrongdoing

ROFL

The main recommendations…

  1. Better training for public officers
  2. Better accounting system
  3. A Code of Ethics for holders of public office

LOL

The new Minister of Health says that he and his team will soon be announcing plans for the property. Hopefully they have received “better training” than their predecessors 🙂

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148 responses to “St. Joseph Hospital Report Laid To Rest”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    “Dr. Taitt?” // July 21, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    John@20/7
    And, what is your point?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    … that the Commission of Enquuiry is not just some political tool one party uses against the other willy nilly.

    It actually has some meaning and bite and it seems to me that someone far more powerful than the politicians is involved in ordering it to happen.

    So, I say, lets be sure and if we are, let’s go to the head of the stream!!

  2. John Avatar
    John

    ….. and on a lighter but serious note, the politicians have so warped the system that the replacements for the GG, the Queen’s representative, were at one time themselves, both politicians!!

  3. John Avatar
    John

    …. and one of those politicians had a Commision of Enquiry investigating him.

  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    What a shallow thought! If one has made a “sterling contribution to humanity” does the appellation “Dr” somehow enhance the achievement? Say “Dr” Nelson Mandela, “Dr” Mother Teresa, “Dr” Derek Walcott? There are many accomplished individuals who are the holders of earned PhDs and do NOT refer to themselves as “Dr”. The brandishing of the “Dr” title outside of academic circles is often done to impress others and to gain “credibility”. This is frequently seen in religious circles where incredulity is more the norm however – Dr Jippy Doyle anyone?

  5. livinginbarbados Avatar
    livinginbarbados

    Let’s not getting into a tizzy about Mr. Taitt being called “Dr”. Notwithstanding other claims, there is no universal common practice for honorary degrees: some universities allow those holding them to be called “Dr” if they so choose, others do not. Likewise, those who have earned a doctorate are not obliged to be called or call themselves “Dr”. Some people like appellations, and some like to list all their degrees. Others couldn’t care a diddly. None of that detracts from the fact that the conferring of an honarary degree can be a matter of great prestige and honour, for both giver and receiver.

  6. Gear Box Avatar
    Gear Box

    “what is to be the purpose of our existence?”

    … TO CONSUME…!

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  7. Themis Avatar
    Themis

    @LIB,

    I was not aware that it is the University conferring the honorary doctorate that “ALLOWS” one to be called doctor or not. A University’s edict can only be binding within the walls of the University. And could you point me to any University which has such a practice? Dr as uised by some is meant only to impress …why Dr George Lamming and not Dr COW Williams? Why Dr Lucille Baird?

  8. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Themis

    In the final analysis, what is the difference between a ‘Doctorate’ conferred as an honorary degree for service to the community, and one conferred for spending 18 months compiling a meaningless thesis using google?
    IMHO,in the majority of cases the former is much more meaningful.

    If a reputable university confers the degree,why shouldn’t the recipient be entitled to use ‘Dr’ if they so desire?

    …

  9. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    @Themis
    My remarks are based on some reading on this truly arcane subject, and some conversations with doctorates (honorary and earned). I have no doctorate and never held a tenured academic position but was often referred to as “Dr” and/or “Professor”. I always tried to correct, but it even got into print. Some people like the titles (and I do not know Mr. Taitt and if he fits that bill). Some people like to give titles and we will live with them for ever, I guess. The region loves highhfalutin: Lord Kitchener, Sir Coxone.

    Once again, we see that a BU thread geting more mileage from some side issue rather than the core. I lean on this for topics to discuss today.

  10. Themis Avatar
    Themis

    @ BT,

    Because Dr is immediately recognisable as the apex of academic achievement. When the accolade is granted as a reward for “achievement” and used without distinction from the academic award, the person carries a certain cachet of authority which is totally undeserved. And he/she knows it! How many of them use the Hon for their Dr which would tell the truth and distinguish them from the other? Is this on purpose?

  11. Themis Avatar
    Themis

    @LIB, I agree but this is the way of blog conversations. Sticking to the topic involves discussion of any side issue which arises off the main or core theme of the topic chosen by the blogmaster!

  12. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    @Bush Tea
    “hat is the difference between a ‘Doctorate’ conferred as an honorary degree for service to the community, and one conferred for spending 18 months compiling a meaningless thesis using google?” [Oh, the straw man! Of course, the 2nd posit is silly and indeed rare, if you really mean to cover ‘earned’ doctorates, where the standard is usually 3 years of ORIGINAL research (that process is one that imposes stringent checks on the work, and submitted doctorates have been rejected for both the lack of originality and their quality, even if original). I understand (while I wait for someone to offer me anything) that there are also standards for honorary degrees. Ask President Obama, who has been refused at least one since he became POTUS.

    In my humble opinion, the majority of those who earn their doctorates merit everything they get with them. Honoraries? I reserve judgement.

  13. David Avatar
    David

    @Themis and Bush Tea

    There is merit in both positions. Can we agree that it is not kosher or honest for the honorary doctor to use the title  BUT if general public refers to said person as Doctor it is entirely appropriate and fits with custom.

  14. Gear Box Avatar
    Gear Box

    I gotta a Phd from Pine Hill Dairy…
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAghhhhhhhhhhh

  15. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Peter Wichkham on the core subject

    “NEW TESTAMENT LOGIC

    Last Tuesday the report of the St. Joseph Hospital Enquiry which started in 1997 was released and the public will finally have the opportunity to read this voluminous and rather costly report some twelve years later. It is difficult for this author to speak of this report without emotion largely because I believe it represents one of the best examples of the manner in which the BLP administration abused public funds in pursuit of political objectives and the cost of this “frolic” demonstrates the priority that politics had over all other objectives during this era of our development.

    The final cost of the report is a staggering 3.5 million report, which is slightly more than half of 6.1 million that the Hospital cost taxpayers in 1986. Ironically, the commission expressed concern about the fact that the Ministry of Health paid the main contractor 2.9 million for renovations to the institution which means that public paid less for the renovations that are the focus of the enquiry than the investigation arising from those renovations. In the final analysis the “bricks and mortar” associated with that 2.9 million dollar renovation project are clearly visible albeit in a dilapidated state, while the dubious value of the 3.5 million Thompson report is reflected in a 180 report that is already irrelevant to public administration twelve years after it started.

    The contemporary reality speaks volumes about the impact of that investigation on public administration within the BLP’s era since it is reported that the cost of the 60 million dollar ABC Highway expansion has almost tripled, even though the project is not yet complete. The value of the St Joseph project was not even ten million, however this ABC project was in the “Tens” of millions, but proceeded on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding, which might resemble a contract, but is clearly not legally defined as such. Presumably then, the St. Joseph commissioners would be considerably more appalled by the fact that more than 10 years after they identified concerns about the fact that government was spending 3 million without reference to a contract, that a different administration spent 132 million without similar documentation. Clearly no lessons have been learnt, which is sad considering the cost of the lesson in question.

    This author has been consistent in his expressed opinion that Caribbean governments (Christian as they tend to be) should pay more attention to the New Testament which encourages forgiveness and is less punitive. Certainly forgiveness in such circumstances appears to give alleged perpetrators a free pass, but there are important reasons why Mahatma Gandhi said “An Eye for an Eye Makes the World Blind”. In these instances it is clear and clearly unfortunate that taxpayers pay twice for administrative impropriety and this situation repeats itself over and over again throughout the Caribbean.

    In Trinidad and Tobago forensic accountant Bob Lindquist has been paid around USD 3.5 Million by the state in fees to identify the persons, or persons who were likely to have benefited inappropriately from public money in that country. Although this quantity of money pales into insignificance against the 100 Million that was allegedly “stolen” during the course of PIARCO airport construction, the fact that to date no one has been “locked up” leaves people wondering if the investigators are perhaps doing as much financial damage as the investigated have.

    Investigations of this nature are familiar to Barbadians who have endured several investigations ranging from the Duffus Commission of enquiry to this St. Joseph Hospital investigation and during each political era abuses continue. As developing countries with little money and several competing priorities, we should perhaps being asking ourselves whether we can really afford to continue these levels of expenditure of if we should look more to the pages of the New Testament for guidance.

    Peter W. Wickham (peter.wickham@caribsurf.com) is a political consultant and a director of Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES).

    Oh go Pete..!

  16. Avatar
    Anonymous

    What about those that neither have an earned PhD nor a honorary one … say “Dr” Don Blackman, “Dr” Lowe??

  17. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    @David
    If Mr. Taitt is not Jewish, then Kosherness cannot bind him…It is certainly no dishonesty to use the title…Check with Brooklyn College.

  18. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    @Themis
    I agree on blog conversations, and I do the same. It was an observation not necessarily a criticism. ‘Conversations’ are fluid…

  19. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    My last word on ‘doctoring’. I always check when I see titles. If on a plane and an attendant calls out “Any doctors on the flight?” there is usually a rush. But only then do we see that one (if we are lucky is a medically qualified person, capable of assisting in an emergency). That does not negate the value or worth of the other ‘doctors’ who rush forward.

  20. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Themis
    I take your general point. However I do not agree that ” Dr is immediately recognisable as the apex of academic achievement.” since Dr to me more directly refers to a medical designation which is much more tied to community service and service to humanity than it is to academics.

    I was of the opinion that it was the good-for-nothing academics who were attached to the coat tails of those who honored the title of ‘Dr’ through community service.

    If the cap fits LIB will respond LOL

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Do we detect a bite to this Wickham article?

    He appears to have summed the issued very well.

  22. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Wicks just snap at the BLP big time… LOL

  23. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    Is Wickham not effectively saying that we should let these improprieties pass since we have been spending so much without meaningful results?

    You supporting that approach?

    Why not argue for a change in the laws that allows for a quick and far less expensive investigation and prosecution of the guilty?

    I have no problem with forgiving these crooks – once they are locked up first…

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @BT

    You should have a reread.

    You slip is showing when it comes to Wickham…lol

  25. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    BT
    Who are the crooks? The people that get contractors to build their homes with tax payer’s money? The commissioners who accept the job knowing full well that the history of Inquires shows that nothing comes of them? The lawyers like Haynes, Thorne and Cheltleham who make big money from these and other kinds of public hearings that never serve in the interest of the public? The Prime Ministers that call for the commissions in the first place? The contractors that engage in dubious activities to gain Government’s favour?

    All of the above?

  26. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    All of the above – and those of us who condone this…

  27. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    “You slip is showing when it comes to Wickham…lol ”
    *************************************
    If so I do apologize David. But could you please help me to see where I misunderstood him…

  28. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    One reason why some countries do not like IMF programs is because of their close scrutiny of public finances. They also do not take the waffle that is pumped to the public but look at what the books of the government, the central bank and private banks (onshore and overseas) show. They often show lots of shady or unauthorised transactions that are hard to hide because the data systems are not connected. (Please no diatribe on the IMF unless someone can tell me CATEGORICALLY that public finances are better managed now than in the mid-1990s.)

  29. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    In the IMF analyses, stuff that a government regards as contingent (eg guarantees) and do not recognize upfront, tend to be captured early as the ultimate risk is on the government and it is prudent to acknowledge that early rather than when the claim is realised. Governments don’t like that because they are asked to balance the books/reduce the deficits/offset the contingencies sooner than they want to (often preferring to leave that job for their successors–I wonder why).

    If your national checks and balances do not work, then who is guarding the national livelihood?

  30. Themis Avatar
    Themis

    David, I agree with BT”s analysis of Wickham’s article. He is attacking the concept of these probes given how much they cost and given the results (convictions) from them. Incidentally, he is wrong. A MOU can indeed take effect as a contract so long as the parties regard it as such!

  31. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    “Please no diatribe on the IMF unless someone can tell me CATEGORICALLY that public finances are better managed now than in the mid-1990s”

    Hah..! I could tell yah.. you guys had little to do in the past ten years! All of a sudden you got jobs again… You’ in demand… I smell a rat!

    I would like to put Living In Barbados and John Perkins (you dun kno’ who he is) in the same room for three minutes, alone… with weapons…!

  32. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    @BAFBFP
    Maybe if you look a little further than these sweet shores you will see where work has not stopped but even increased. Even when there are no programs there is a lot going on. But, some countries are so sure that they can do it themselves that they refuse the offers for help (free), even go and buy the same from countries who were offering it for free…until…oops…

    Three minutes is about the length of a round in boxing? It’s the time to run a world class 1000 meters. One could bowl a tidy over in less time. More goals have been scored in the last 3 minutes than I care to recall. It should be enough time.

    If you don’t feel the problems are endemic (and I measure the should/do distance often) read today’s Advocate editorial and figure out what is really so hard to do? All the chatter about progress misses the simple point that if you do nothing you regress–naturally. (Some Bajan friends told me the trick with the water tanks is to mount them then fill them with piped water. Kind of defeats the purpose for water economizing, eh?)

    I’ve other fish to fry.

  33. Hopi Avatar
    Hopi

    @BAFBFP………Were you waiting on that solar eclipse? What more weapons would you like to put in John Perkins hands? Didn’t he do enough damage? These two are part of the problem.

    Well since no diatribes are allowed how about asking Argentina about their reality with the IMF OR the poor people who were paying thru their arses for gas a few months back? Just to mention a few of the ‘benefits’ of the IMF. Miss good ole IMF.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea
    Our interpretation of the Wickham article he is concerned at the cost of these inquiries which don’t ever result in anybody getting locked up. The motive of many of the inquiries has its genesis in political vindictiveness and the commission of inquiry is used as a tool to gain political points eg. Arthur holding the St. Joseph Hospital Report over Taitt/DLP for 13 years. He opines the politicians need to practice forgiveness because taxpayers are the ones to pay. His suggestion perhaps signals resignation with the ineffective of system of government than anything else. Would integrity legislation have dealt with a St. Joseph Hospital? We think so.

     

    Anyway we are prepared to give the guy the benefit of the doubt but if are wrong we stand corrected. If only Peter would summon the guts to clarify:-)

    @Themis

    As a legal eagle you must know that any MOU can be challenged all the way to the CCJ…lol

  35. Right On Avatar
    Right On

    On the issue of ‘Doctorate’ be it earned or honorary, to my mind, it IS not the ‘degrees’ behind ones name that validate what they say or write, BUT, rather, what they speak or write that validate their ‘degrees.’

  36. Livinginbarbados Avatar
    Livinginbarbados

    The editorial on BWA/water today is in The Nation (not Advocate, who touch it already).

  37. Avatar
    Anonymous

    @Hopi (LIB writing courtesy of another BLP outage-power co not pol party). I have an annoying habit of not taking history as the past 10-25 years. I also know that politics is a craven sport. Look at Argetina’s progress since the mid 1800s. Assess why they had debt problems. Figure out how they became one of the world’s richest nations early in the 20th century. Look at why debt problems recurred. Assess the Peronist regimes. Add in the IMF over the past 30 years and tell me what you have learned. You need not deal with the wars or the disappeared persons, if you prefer.

  38. David Avatar
    David

    Water tanks are not always about coversation but serve as a backup water supply.

    Why not look at Jamaica as an IMF case study?

  39. Avatar
    Anonymous

    @David (LIB again): True on water tanks but think big picture. If you fill them with piped water what do byou do with the rainwater? Have a second tank? If the country is water scarce you must put conservation first or at least very high. Your reply suggests the ‘soft’ option that is part of many problems. You might not have intended it to be so. I understand back up notions well, which is why I drain my laptop battery then recharge it fully rather than keeping it on the mains all the time. Energy conservation is net zero if I keep drawing on the main energy source. Ditto for water.

  40. Inkwell Avatar
    Inkwell

    David,

    You have been coming across rather lukewarm on the “integrity legislation” matter.

    As one who supports the DLP Government and did so when it was campaigning all across Barbados promising integrity legislation, FOI and financial disclosure for MP’s, don’t you think that you owe a duty to the country to hold the government’s feet to the fire for non performance? (some may read hypocrisy).

  41. David Avatar
    David

    @LIB

    We have discussed this BWA business already and while we agree there is a place for conservation the bigger issue as you say is a water management issue at the agency level. You cant tell consumers to conserve water and the system is leaking 60% and service deliver by the BWA can be likened to a backwoods operations.

    @Inkwell

    You are correct but be assured we have been gathering information behind the scenes and as expressed in some of our comments we are comfortable on the FOI passage but the Integrity Bill we don’t have the same comfort level. As a strategy as you would have observed we have declared the immigration as our flagship issue but in the coming weeks you will see a shift to the matter of Freedom of Information/Integrity issues. BU family is invited to submit articles on transparency in government. We have also given the government some time to organize itself on this matter given our understanding of some of the challenges associated with mobilizing/implementing such legislation.

  42. Avatar
    Anonymous

    @David: Your argument is a fallacy, but live with it. Let’s wait till BWA fixes the leaks then teach the citizens to conserve. Like most problems the solutions should be simultaneous not sequential. As people often say, when you fix your side I will fix mine. Keep praying for rain.

  43. John Avatar
    John

    David // July 22, 2009 at 9:54 am

    @Bush Tea
    Our interpretation of the Wickham article he is concerned at the cost of these inquiries which don’t ever result in anybody getting locked up. The motive of many of the inquiries has its genesis in political vindictiveness and the commission of inquiry is used as a tool to gain political points eg. Arthur holding the St. Joseph Hospital Report over Taitt/DLP for 13 years. He opines the politicians need to practice forgiveness because taxpayers are the ones to pay. His suggestion perhaps signals resignation with the ineffective of system of government than anything else. Would integrity legislation have dealt with a St. Joseph Hospital? We think so.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    But there seems to be another line of defence …. besides the integrity legislation which we would ourselves have to enforce.

    Her Majesty the Queen.

    It appears to me that Owen on behalf of Her Majesty’s Loyal Subjects, thats Us, approached Her Majesty and asked for a Commission of Enquiry to be held on Our behalf.

    It appears to me that Her Majesty listened favourably to his request and told Her representative, the GG, “Make it so”.

    Her representative, the GG, then appears to have appointed the Commission of Enquiry with specific terms of reference and all capable commissioners, and we got this mess.

    So, if this process is the process that was followed, We Loyal Subjects of Her Majesty should let Her Majesty know that We have some complaints, some of which are:

    1) The Enquiry cost more than the matter that was being enquired into.

    2) It took 13 years or more with the report constantly playing hide and seek.

    3) Other issues too numerous to mention including those mentioned by David

    Go to the head of the stream and perhaps answers will follow.

    Don’t forget that David Thompson is more than likely going to Her Majesty soon, on Our behalf, to ask Her to Commission some more Enquiries, …. on Our behalf.

    We need to provide some feedback to Her Majesty that there are serious problems associated with the process or Her Majesty will think Our silence is indicative of acceptance.

    Every now and again processes need to be fine tuned and I sure Her Majesty will do what needs to be done.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    @LIB

    That is not the argument and you know it. How can we build a culture of water conservation when there is an attitude from the BWA known to ALL that if you report a burst main we can take days/weeks to be fixed? We have a situation narrated by a minister recently lamenting the obselete managment practice of man power deployment i.e to fix leaks etc. How can the BWA have any credibility leading the change? Even if they don’t lead it the BWA is integral to the process of the change management process required.

    @John

    Are you hinting the Republican System promised should be placed on the front burner AGAIN?

  45. livinginbarbados Avatar
    livinginbarbados

    @David
    “That is not the argument and you know it.” [Do I? It’s my interpretation of what I read.]

    “How can we build a culture of water conservation when there is an attitude from the BWA known to ALL that if you report a burst main we can take days/weeks to be fixed?” [You build culture by making a start when it is important, not when it is convenient. You build it by anticipating problems and become aware of what to do. But, look, given that people do not prepare for hurricanes here based on the past experiences, one cannot expect that they will prepare themselves for water conservation. You asked questions about what kind of country and people you want but you give answers that suggest that hard options are not what interest you. One caller: “I did not complain about my bill. I hear the other complaints and I jus’ go long with it…”

    I just follow my own advice. My house has a tank, and it’s rain water that fills it. When it’s filled I use to wash my car and water the garden. When it’s not filled by rain water, the plants have to do the best they can and my car stays dirty.

    Your Jamaican naysayers should see how a country known for wood and water deals with managing water. Just an idea, my friend. Time to deal with other issues, like food self suffiency.

    I must recall the characterisation I read in the papers recently about Barbadians only acting when the crisis has arrived. If you recall it, even better.]

  46. David Avatar
    David

    Who is disagreeing that we have to change behaviours? We are probing the issues and you run off about Bajans this and that? Barbados is not a perfect society and we have a way of working through problems which does not include shooting at people or law makers as in Korea fighting with each other. The problem of water management has been mismanaged over the years and we have to find the best way to unravel this mess. All BU is saying that to get Bajans to change attititude about water in an aggressive way will call for a very comprehensive approach. As John on the water blog has pointed out even if Barbadians conserve water it does not address the fact we are a water scarce country with a growing population (legal and illegal).

  47. John Avatar
    John

    David // July 22, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    @John

    Are you hinting the Republican System promised should be placed on the front burner AGAIN?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Not at all.

    I am trying to understand the process which gave us such a flawed result and look for ways to fix that process.

    Going to the head of the stream invariably works.

    If the process of how the report resulted is flawed, let’s take some time to understand the process and see if it can be fixed.

    My thesis on the process of the appointment of the Commission of Enquiry may be all wrong but I am not going to find out by saying nothing.

    Personally, I think the Republic issue is as good as dead.

    None of our leaders have the moral right to raise it …… for along time to come.

    They are all tainted,

    …… to be honest, we are too !!

  48. David Avatar
    David

    @John

    You should know your question will be interpreted as rhetorical given the ceremonial position the GG has in our system.

  49. John Avatar
    John

    David // July 22, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    @John

    You should know your question will be interpreted as rhetorical given the ceremonial position the GG has in our system.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++

    There is usually an underlying principle to any ceremony.

    We say the GG’s position is ceremonial but who called in the marines in Grenada?

    I always heard it was Sir Paul Scoons, GG at the time of Grenada but my memory isn’t what it used to be.

  50. John Avatar
    John

    Apologies, I spelt the gentleman’s name incorrectly. It should be Scoon, no s.

    He wrote a book about his experience as GG of Grenada.

    http://www.everybodysmag.com/bookreview.htm

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