Coalition Govt squandered taxpayers’ money – Dr Frank Anthony

Four and a half years after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government took office, it has been blasted for breaching procurement laws, entering into shady deals and wastage of taxpayers’ money.
This was according to former Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony, who posited that it remains unchanged as monies continue to be squandered at all levels. These were among the issues Dr Anthony raised at a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) community meeting at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.
The former shadow Heath Minister specifically pointed out the wastage of monies within the health sector, making reference to the controversial Sussex Street drug bond contract which the coalition Government entered and paid over $264 million in rental fees since 2016.

But according to Dr Anthony, even after the contract came to light during the consideration of financial papers, the APNU/AFC continued the agreement for another three years before ending it.
“Look at the Ministry of Health, in the Ministry of Health they decided that they want to have bond, a place to store medicine. Where they were storing the medicine before they used to get the place for free but when they come in, they say ‘nah’ they gonna move out from the free place and now go to a different place and you would’ve think that the bond they used would’ve met standards fuh store medicine. They first go and they find this man and they gave the $22 million upfront and the man take the money and he buy one house in Sussex Street…he fix it up and rent it back to the Government for $12.4 million every single month, what you call that? Isn’t that corruption?” he explained.

Anthony is of the view that the bond’s hefty monthly rental fee of $12.5 million, should have been used for the development of communities such as Cove and John. This led him to point out another shady transaction involving funds for medical supplies under regional leaders appointed by the incumbent Government.
“Imagine if they took some of that money and gave this NDC to do some work, you could’ve gotten a better road, drains could’ve been better cleaned… almost every level you can see corruption seeping into the Government. This is what is going on, wastage of the people’s money, Region Six, it got a set of AFCs and APNU man who running the health system there, first of all, they have no qualifications in health. The Auditor General again, when he goes and audit the books up there, he found 52 items, medicines that they buy way above the price.”
Nevertheless, while expressing confidence that the PPP/C will win the upcoming March 2 General and Regional Elections, Dr Anthony urged residents to play their part in returning the country to prosperity by coming out and vote.