| Hall: Howell Saved Lives | | Print | |
| Sunday, 08 February 2009 22:27 | |||
 In a statement released yesterday, The Hon. Floyd B. Hall, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance sought to put his relationship with Southern Health Network into perspective. According to his statement, the citizens of Turks and Caicos benefited greatly from the care and concern of Mr. Delroy Howell - a principal of the company - in his service to this country.Further, Hall sought to distinguish between companies such as Southern Health Network and companies that are as proficient and professional, but less friendly and less familiar with life here in these islands. Minister Hall said: "first as regards the Southern Health arrangements, as Minister, you are always caught by and between the tendencies of your culture and the exercise of prudent judgments; both financially and perceptually”. Hall is clearly sensitive to the charges made by Counsel to the Inquiry, Mr. Alex Milne, who seemed to draw something ominous from the close relationship between the Minister and Mr. Howell. The Minister addressed this by saying: “It is true that Mr. Delroy Howell is my friend. And let me say clearly, even though everyone knew that, I should have specifically and positively declared that so that people looking into it who were not from the country, could be satisfied that all the proper declarations were made”. Returning to the benefits of their friendship and how such friendship carry extended benefits, Minister Hall counteracted the impression made by Mr. Milne by attempting to show the true impact of Mr. Howell’s services: “However, I have to say even if Mr. Howell’s proposal was not proposed in a way that saved the government 50%, which it did, as it turns out, we have been able to count on his goodwill to a degree that we could not any other bidder. There is a real case to be made here: Mr. Howell is owed nearly $15 million dollars by government. Every dollar of that represents lives of Turks and Caicos islanders”. Hall continued: “The public will recall recently the accident which involved the little girls in Grand Turk. I cannot think of any other company, that was owed substantial sums of money, that would have taken those girls for emergency medical care”. Hall concluded his statement by asking the public to look at things not as they may appear, but as they are, arguing that Mr. Howell’s commitment to Turks and Caicos islanders went beyond his contract and constantly saved the lives of those who fell ill in these islands. He said: “Please understand, all I am saying here is that for small countries, these things are not as straight forward and there are local and regional consultants working for the government and still working whom we have not been able to pay. Were some of these consultants not friendly with Ministers, we would be in quite a state for the benefits of their services if they were from one of the larger countries.” Hall’s suggestion was that some regard be had for the reputations of such persons: “While I understand” the way some things might look at first glance,” he intimated, “I just think we should think first about demonizing them, when their sacrifice for this country has been very great and has saved the lives of some of our friends and families”.
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