As we said earlier there is an agreement between the Belize Medical and Dental Union and the board of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The parties were locked down today with the labour commissioner, Ivan Williams since nine-thirty this morning. They sweated it out along with a newcomer to the mix, Senator Godwin Hulse. Hulse intervened on the behalf of the B.M.D.U. and at six-thirty tonight, they were able to sign a thirteen point memorandum that both groups could agree on. The most important sticking point for the doctors was the removal of the Chairman of the Board Doctor Ricardo Fabro. Before the ink dried on the six copies that were signed, Fabro removed himself from his post for the duration of the investigation and upcoming Commission of Inquiry. Our team is just come back from the Biltmore and here is their report.
Ivan Williams, Labour Commissioner
“I’m pleased to say that we have signed a joint memorandum of understanding between the B.M.D.U. and the K.H.M.H. and so the long stand off between the parties culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding.”
Jose Sanchez
“What were the significant parts that were different in regards to doctor Fabro?”
Ivan Williams
“With respect to Dr. Fabro, which is point four I believe on the M.O.U. Dr. Fabro has voluntarily, of his own free choice, removed himself from his duty as chairman of the board. He is doing so in the interest of the Belizean public, in reference to the institution and in terms of the services that need to be carried on in the institution.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is that temporary or is that something…”
Ivan Williams
“Precisely, it is temporary in regards to the investigations that will be going on. In particular, as one the points in the agreement mentioned, there will be—both the parties, the B.M.D.U. and the K.H.M.H. have agreed to fully cooperate with a commission of inquiry and have agreed to an audit with respect to the institution and so in line with the investigations and so on, he has removed himself. So it’s temporarily with respect to the investigations.”
Jose Sanchez
“When it comes to the commission of inquiry, have they decided which parties will be a part of that?”
Ivan Williams
“Well, clearly that is outside of the remit of the parties and myself. The commission of inquiry, to the best of my knowledge, is something which the prime minister has to call and so all aspects relating to that is best addressed by his office. I wouldn’t be able to comment on that.”
Jose Sanchez
“No go slows?”
Ivan Williams
“I can't—very important and I am glad you raised that question because in the M.O.U., it calls for the parties to continue to maintain a very harmonious working relationship. As a matter of fact, that is one of the very important points in respect of the chairman removing himself, that the parties will refrain from making aspersions and statements that are clearly attacking a person’s integrity in particular and pointing to allegations and so on.”
“I think it was a crucial point because it was one of the main points that have been in discussion for a long period of time and so I think the chairman made a very significant move and a very magnanimous move, I might add, that to do so paves the way for the investigations to go through and clearly indicates that if there is any wrongdoing he cannot be blamed for being there and being accused for any disruption or anything with respect to any investigations that may be carried out.”
Jose Sanchez
“It’s hard not to notice that Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth, the K.H.M.H. C.E.O. is not here. Is there any particular reason for that?”
Ivan Williams
“No, he was here all day. It’s just that in the preparation of the final document, it was just a matter of tying up and all the parties knew that the points had already been agreed to. He had, I understand, he phoned in that he had something very important to do so it was just for the signing that he was absent. But he was here throughout the day.”
Godwin Hulse, Senator
“I was asked by the union last week really to assist them in a conclusion and so I have been meeting with them and on their behalf, met with the board under the mediation of Mr. Williams to try to work out points with a positive view to bringing a positive conclusion to this. I think the union and the board have engendered this positive attitude to resolve this issue and to ensure that the institution is returned to a high level of efficiency and I basically helped to facilitate that process.”
While the commission is in wait, one particular point of interest says that a special purpose and full scope audit into the financial transactions of the hospital would be carried out. IT will focus particularly on the expenditure associated with procurement of goods and services. That can only mean an investigation into the procurement of meats and medication, the source of the current K.H.M.H. scandal. CH5

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