Former UHWI Board Member Faces Tough PAC Questioning

Former University Hospital of the West Indies Board Chairman Wayne Chai Chong, on Tuesday defended decisions taken during his tenure as Members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee questioned governance issues at the institution.

Chai Chong told the committee the board inherited several long-standing challenges, including weak governance structures, procurement concerns and issues with payroll oversight.

“What’s necessary is that you need strong leadership that is acting toward a plan, which did not exist when we took the seat at the hospital. There was no operational plan, there was no strategic [plan. So, in essence, you have an institution that is underfunded with many interests, competing for the scarce funds that are available.”