(Trinidad Express) A major scandal has been unearthed at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), where the Prime Minister’s signature was forged in an attempt to receive a million-dollar payment.
The bogus letter bearing the Prime Minister’s forged signature surfaced among a pile of doctored documents at the NCRHA, where an elaborate plan was uncovered whereby contracts totalling millions of dollars were split up to the value of under $50,000 so no board approval was required.
An internal audit found there were major discrepancies in the process of the award of the contracts.
Action was taken by the current NCRHA management and the board—which was installed last November—resulting in the termination of contracts of three persons: the manager of the projects unit, Carlson Ramlal, site control officer Wayne Rodriguez and draughtsman Darwin Robain.
All three admitted to the Express they have been fired.
Sources told the Express contracts were issued with total disregard for due process.
Costs of work were inflated and the audit found a paper trail of questionable documents where, in one instance, the dates on the documents for quotations of jobs were the same as the dates for when the job was actually being carried out.
The NCRHA is facing possible legal challenges from contractors who are demanding payments, and questions are being asked as to how such corruption went unnoticed by authorities, including a senior official who is currently on leave.
In fact, it was a lawsuit threat from one of the contractors—Small’s General Contracting Company Ltd—which had demanded payment of over $1 million for works done at the hospital, which prompted action by the authorities.
An internal audit was immediately ordered.
Adding to this, sources told the Express NCRHA acting CEO Dr Rodney Ramroop had alerted the board to a number of questionable documents which required his signature.
According to the NCRHA rules, contracts valued under $50,000 can be signed off by the CEO and the chief financial officer (CFO) without board approval.
Sources told the Express of chief concern in this entire matter was the letter bearing the forged signature of the Prime Minister, dated August 24, 2012, which was addressed to NCRHA CEO Collin Bissessar.
It is still a mystery as to exactly who wrote the letter bearing the official letterhead of the Office of the Member of Parliament for Siparia.In it, the “MP for Siparia, Kamla Persad-Bissessar” writes in support of a contractor and asks that he be given work and also be paid all outstanding payments.
The letter bears the address of Persad-Bissessar’s Penal office and it was signed not as Prime Minister but as the MP for Siparia.
The signature is clearly forged, as it differs from the Prime Minister’s authentic signature.
The letter’s subject is “Re: Small’s General Contracting Ltd – NCRHA” and reads: “We write with respect to the above mentioned. Smalls General Contracting Company Limited, a small general building contractor has a proven track record of delivering projects up to a value of 3.5 million dollars. We would like to request that the NCRHA invite the said company on any future works. As per company profile attached.
“Thanking you in advance of your consideration of this company.“We also understand that there are some outstanding payments for this contractor we hope that this can be settled as soon as possible.”
Small’s General Contracting Company Ltd has demanded payment of some $1.2 million for works done on the Mt Hope hospital, through Ramlal.
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan, speaking to the Express by phone on Sunday, said the fraudulent letter was indeed worrying and he was satisfied quick action was taken.
Khan said he understands the original letter could not be located.“I have known the Prime Minister for years and she would never do that, she would never do something like that at all,” said Khan.
The Express contacted Jennifer Seepersad, one of the directors of Small’s General Contracting Ltd, who said the matter was in their lawyer’s hands.
Questioned on who would use the Prime Minister’s name to write in favour of the company, and why, Seepersad said she too was surprised by the letter and knew nothing at all about it.
NCRHA officials have pointed to Ramlal as the suspect in this scheme. However, when questioned by the Express on Sunday, Ramlal said he followed due process and did not attempt to solicit money by fraudulently using the Prime Minister’s signature.
He said he was aware an audit was undertaken, but he was not certain of the nature of it.
Ramlal said he was out of office last week and he would seek to find out what was happening, as he was absent from work due to a medical appointment and family commitments.
The Express understands Ramlal, Rodriguez and Robain were called by the NCRHA board and management to two meetings to explain the situation.
Sources told the Express Ramlal maintained that a senior NCRHA official was fully aware of all contracts awarded and scope of works and he (Ramlal) was acting on clear instructions.
The Express learnt the NCRHA had called the trio to a third meeting, but Ramlal called in sick and the other two never showed up.
Termination letters were prepared last week.
After a week’s leave, Ramlal on Monday turned up at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he received his termination letter.
He had been given a two-year contract at NCRHA, which began last April.
Sources told the Express Ramlal was previously employed as the project manager at Education Facilities Companies Ltd (EFCL) and was forced to resign from the position due to alleged questionable transactions.
An EFCL source yesterday told the Express Ramlal was suspended from his position, and claimed he resigned before any action was taken.
Ramlal confirmed to the Express he did work at EFCL, but said he resigned because he took up a job in Curacao. In his curriculum vitae to NCRHA, Ramlal listed his previous employment, but excluded his stint at the EFCL.
The Express attempted to question Rodriguez on the issue on Monday, but he deferred his response, saying he would answer on another day.
On Tuesday, Rodriguez said he was advised by his attorney to not speak on the matter.
The Express understands the NCRHA audit report noted that all bid evaluation reports were signed off by Ramlal and Rodriguez of the Projects Management Unit, which was not the correct procedure for the procurement of goods and services. The source said most of the purchase requisitions which Ramlal prepared did not have the approval of key people such as purchasing manager, hospital administrator or CEO.
The Express yesterday contacted Robain, who distanced himself from the entire situation.
Asked if he knew anything about the fraudulent letter, Robain said, “I heard something about that, but it was hearsay, I have never seen that letter. I was blown away when I heard that, I didn’t think someone would do something like that.”
