The CEO of InterHealth Canada, Mr. Roger Chessman and Public Relations Officer, Paul Baker, held a press conference earlier this week to refute a series of what they refer to as wholly false and in their view, malicious allegations which have been made, either explicitly or by implication, in certain organs of the media and in some cases most recently in the now defunct TCI Journal and the Turks & Caicos Sun. InterHealth Canada says it fully accepts that its involvement in the improvement of healthcare provision in and for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is a matter of legitimate public interest and debate. However, it said that public interest and debate, should be informed by the true facts and not based on falsehoods or innuendos.
“As an international company, InterHealth Canada is required to comply with the anti-corruption legislation in force in Canada and other jurisdictions in which it operates. Also and especially as a provider of healthcare services, InterHealth Canada has a strict Ethics Policy which was adopted by its main Board in 1998 and with which all its operating subsidiaries and their staff are required to comply. That Ethics Policy has been followed “to the letter” in all matters pertaining to the contract with the TCI Government,” a statement from InterHealth Canada said.
Among the allegations which have been made against InterHealth Canada, is that the contract, under which InterHealth Canada has financed, constructed and is now operating the new hospital facilities on Grand Turk and Providenciales, was not won through open and fair competition. Mr Chessman in addressing that allegation, said at the behest of the United Kingdom Government, the process by which the TCI Government procured and selected InterHealth Canada as the provider and operator of the new hospital facilities was carried out strictly in accordance with the Procurement Rules established by the European Union and with which the United Kingdom Government is itself obliged to comply.
InterHealth Canada also came under criticism in the media for its alleged association with Lord Ashcroft and/or one or more of his companies, a matter that the CEO addressed at this week’s press conference.
Refuting charges that InterHealth Canada had unethical dealings with members of the former TCI Government, Mr Chessman said, quote:- “Nobody who has ever held public office in the Turks & Caicos Islands has or ever has had, whether directly or indirectly, any shareholding or other interest or position in or with InterHealth Canada or any of its subsidiaries. Similarly neither InterHealth Canada nor any of its directors or Officers has or ever has had, whether directly or indirectly, any interest in the Turks & Caicos Islands other than through the contract for the new hospital facilities,” end quote.
Addressing the issue that InterHealth Canada engaged the services of Mr Paul Baker as its Public Relations consultant while he is also providing similar services to others and thereby allowing a conflicting interest to exist, Mr Baker said quote:- “I am journalist of 25 years experience, having worked for, and edited both news and sport on a number of daily publications in the UK. Since arriving in the TCI in March 2010, I have worked on a freelance basis and carried out paid writing and public relations duties for three organisations, namely – InterHealth Canada, Air Turks and Caicos and the TCI Weekly News.
I also continue to write on a freelance basis for a number of publications and websites in the UK and have untaken sports reporting work for PTV on a voluntary basis.
At no time have I ever carried out work for any organisations associated with Lord Michael Ashcroft.
My only involvement with the PDM came as a personal favour to Mr Doug Parnell, whom I know because our children attend the same school. This was limited to providing help and advice on press release layout and distribution. As part of that unpaid favour to a fellow parent, I distributed one press release on the PDM’s behalf in December 2010 as a demonstration for Mr Parnell. This in no way compromised any other roles I may have which are clearly not associated with this personal favour.
I have never written press releases on behalf of either Mr. Parnell or the PDM, a fact that the local media can confirm as all correspondence between them and the PDM comes directly from the office and pen of Mr. Parnell.
Lord Nigel Jones is a contact from my days working for the UK Press. As a member of the Parliamentary All Party TCI Committee, he has proved a very useful and informative contact for stories I have written for the TCI Weekly News,” end quote.
The Inter Health Canada officials told journalists that their statement had been approved by the Toronto based Senior Management of InterHealth Canada which asks that its staff in the TCI be allowed to carry out their roles in the TCI, working with other stakeholders to provide the quality healthcare which the people of the TCI deserve, without the distraction of having to deal with unfounded allegations and rumours.
RTC News will have more from that press conference in a subsequent newscast.
