Cay Hill:--- Shady business transactions at the St. Maarten Medical Centre are continuing to surface even though the medical director of SMMC Dr. George Scot and members of the supervisory council have denied the allegations.However, documents provided to SMN News shows that the SMMC has been using third parties to order their materials such as the Stryker beds that were ordered earlier this year. The hospital spent close to $350,000.00 to order the beds yet they were not in possession of any documents to show that the beds were for SMMC.
Emails provided to SMN News show that the finance department made several enquires to one Fred Roos and Tammy requesting information on the beds. SMMC also contacted Stryker and they were unable to obtain the information because SMMC was not on the bill of laden. The finance department specifically instructed one of the recipients to get information from the medical director on the Stryker beds so that the hospital's maintenance department and the shipping company could coordinate the delivery.
One of the emails provided to SMN News reads as follows: --- "My office is the purchasing Office with SMMC- Finance Department. It is my understanding you are away from the island at the moment. Mr. Cees Jan Roos helped us, since your contact number on the Bill of Laden is no longer in use. After several phone calls both to Madelyn and Caribbean Foreign Trade Corp and Rene at Carib Trans concerning the large order and payment. My office is unable to get solid details on this physical delivery to SMMC, as SMMC is not listed anywhere on the paperwork. So legally they cannot reveal any shipment details to us. Or even confirm a delivery schedule of this large shipment. Stryker was unable to send us a copy of this Bill of Laden.
Caribtrans needs something from you in writing that these patient beds are indeed for the St. Maarten Medical Center- to in turn release information to us. Please let us know if changing the name on the Bill of Laden is possible at this point-in helping this situation."
Another email states "Understand that you have meanwhile spoken with Cees Jan. I will be back on St. Maarten tomorrow around noon. Understood from Dr. George Scot that SMMC would like the order be delivered/unloaded on Feb. 22 I will be in touch with you tomorrow afternoon to personally see delivery-location at SMMC premises. At this point in time I see no need to change the Bill of Laden."
At a press conference on Thursday when SMN News asked Dr. George Scot and members of the Supervisory Council if the SMMC were using his N.V or any other N.V to order materials. Dr. Scot denied the allegations saying those person/persons accusing him should be the ones to provide the proof of their allegations.
Dr. Scot was also asked to explain how is it possible for him to be a member of the board of directors and the medical director of SMMC at the same time, and if holding two the positions creates a conflict of interest. Dr. Scot and the members of the supervisory council said SMMC changed its statues to allow Dr. Scot to hold both positions. Dr. Scot further explained he is no longer an employee of the St. Maarten Medical Centre and that changing the statues allows the SMMC to hire his services through his N.V.
SMN News also asked Dr. Scot to explain some other conflicts regarding an unregistered specialist at the St. Maarten Medical Center who was later terminated. Dr. Scot explained that the SMMC submitted the necessary paperwork and informed government about the specialist but after 15 months his registration was not completed and as such the hospital had no other choice but to let go of the specialist.
Delivery Invoice from CaribTRANS for Stryker Beds.
