Central Regional Administrator allegedly named in an audit report
Melinda Guerra
On Wednesday, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health, Peter Allen, was under fire particularly for the recent appointment of Danini Contreras as Director of Drug Inspectorate. There is one other issue that we did not report on because of the volume of news and it has to do with the Central Regional Administrator, Melinda Guerra, who sat at the head table at an award ceremony for the Matron Roberts Polyclinic Two. Guerra has allegedly been named in an audit report at the Central Region which discovered serious financial irregularities. She and others are currently awaiting a hearing before the Public Services Commission. C.E.O. Allen told News Five today that Guerra’s expertise has kept her in the position, but her access to finance, so to speak, has been limited.
Peter Allen, C.E.O., Ministry of Health
“The Public Service Commission hasn’t heard yet. You are very well informed. The report of course is confidential for the Public Service commission but there are some officers who have been named. Now obviously, naming somebody in a report is quite a different thing than finding somebody guilty of any wrongdoing. I have to say that I have known Melinda Guerra for probably more than twenty years but have never known her to be anything other than an outstanding public officer and an outstanding leader for this region. That has been my opinion. If other facts speak differently then that is for the Public Service Commission to decide. They have not yet set a date for those hearings as far as I am aware.”
Reporter
“Sir, when there were allegations against officers from the Passport Section they were put on half pay…”
Reporter
Peter Allen
“…and suspended. In the Police Department, when there are allegations, they are interdicted. They are put on half pay and sent home. Do you feel that it is proper that these are very serious allegations of misappropriation, and yet she is here at the head table for a major event? “
Peter Allen
“I am…the allegations as far as I understand them are not of the nature of funds being missing, but perhaps more of the not quite following regulations as they should have been followed. That’s just my understanding. With Nurse Guerra, she was actually suspended for a while, but she is an extremely senior officer and the allegations were made rather a long time ago. We do need the expertise and the functions of that senior officer, she is a regional manager. And so we are comfortable with her being in the position where she is. We have taken certain measures, and I think I mentioned this to you in an earlier interview, but for the time being, my finance officers from headquarters, from Belmopan, come down to do the authorizations according to the electronic system that Finance uses. So we have removed certain authorities just as a precaution while we wait for the Public Service Commission hearing to be held.”
The incident was reported since 2013.
Hmm. The major deficiency of our system is that Ministers are not the Chief Accounting Officers. It is a no-brainer to fix. It will also make Ministers criminally liable and that is the catch. So, they use their bully pulpit to intimidate public officers who in the end end up holding the ugly end of the stick. So, I would not be very quick to hang this woman out to dry. Don’t know her record. But I do know the behaviour of our ministers through the years. Do as I say or I will find someone else who will. They never get implicated in these audits although they are front and centre, Satan to put it midly!
Nothing but thieves in this gov. At all levels the thieves are being protected this is a sick sick gov,
Where is Rod’s foolish comments now? Oh it doesn’t apply to Belizeans of Hispanic descent. Sheesh!
It Is obvious that Belize is crime ridden at all levels. What will the people of Belize do?
Hopefully not remain passive. ..
She is not there because of her expertise it is because she is one of Allen’s loyalist, so you can steel GOB funds as long as you are friends with the CEO. The evidence is clear that this woman was taking monies from GOB, and the CEO is well aware of it. Stop the bulls…. Allen.
Angelface before you become judgmental and prejudice you should find out public officers service record and acknowledge the wealth of expertise Central Health Region Manager has. She has been a loyal and very giving officer and because of envy and covetous of her current position, one that she is over qualified for. So angelface the next time you want to be a B@$% get your facts right and at the same you must enroll in a spelling bee contest, because STEEL is Iron and she is an Iron woman with an iron so you are right is very tough and your comments and judgement wont bring her down because she is INNOCENT!
PS. Use a Webster dictionary before posting your comments.