UHWI CEOs snub PAC summons amid Auditor General probe

The sitting chief executive officer of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), along with his predecessor, did not turn up for a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Tuesday, as parliamentarians pressed ahead with their probe of concerns flagged in a recent Auditor General's report on the institution.

Former board chairman Wayne Chai Chong was also missing from the sitting. The committee said he had informed members that he was out of the country and would instead make himself available on May 12.

PAC Chairman Julian Robinson told the meeting that current CEO Fitzgerald Mitchell had passed word through the hospital's board chairman that he would stay away on legal counsel's advice. Robinson, however, said the committee had asked for that advice in writing and had received nothing despite Parliament's request.

"The current CEO, Mr Mitchell, had sent a message through the chairman of the board that he would not be attending on the advice of his lawyer. We asked for that advice to be provided to the committee, and we have received nothing at this point in time," Robinson said.

The chairman added that former CEO Kevin Allen, who had previously signalled he would attend, was also a no-show on Tuesday with no explanation given.

Robinson told the committee he regarded Mitchell's no-show, paired with the lack of any formal written reason, as a grave matter in light of the issues now sitting before lawmakers.

"Now, I find, particularly related to Mr Mitchell, his absence and the absence of any formal documentation indicating why he's not here, to be contemptuous of the PAC and the Houses of Parliament, given the very serious issues that have been raised in the Auditor General report, and given that he is the chief executive officer of the hospital," Robinson said.

The PAC has been working through the matters set out in the Auditor General's report on UHWI after a number of questions were left hanging at earlier sittings.

During Tuesday's meeting, Robinson pointed to the Senate and House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act, which empowers parliamentary committees to compel individuals to attend and give evidence.

Opposition Member of Parliament for Manchester Southern, Peter Bunting, backed firmer action by the committee, arguing that a lawyer's advice on its own should not shield anyone from appearing before Parliament.

"There are situations where a person summoned to give information can claim that they have a right against self-incrimination. That usually only arises in the case where some police investigation or prosecutorial investigation has arisen. But even so, they would then come and claim they should appear and then claim that right, or they're advised that they can't answer that question because it could be self-incriminating. But to just not appear and ignore the first request and then the summons, I think it would be contemptuous, as you said, and would require some action," he said.