‘Unnecessary witch-hunt’ – Barret on dismissal
Published:Wednesday | October 29, 2008 | 9:15 AM
The former Chief Executive Officer at the National Health Fund, NHF, believes there was no need for termination of his tenure at the organization.
Speaking in parliament yesterday health minister, Rudyard Spencer said, based on several irregularities, he and the board concluded that it was not possible to continue with Rae Barrett at the helm of the NHF.
Barrett described his dismissal as an unnecessary witch-hunt.
In a seven-page release to the media yesterday, Barrett said he was asked to resign at a meeting of the NHF board on Sunday.
He says he refused, as the NHF had done nothing to give cause for his resignation.
In the release Barrett also sought to clear up several issues highlighted in the media regarding his dismissal.
Barrett said he had nothing to do with the NHF paying a company for which he is chairman, Marksman Limited, to provide security for himself, his family and the NHF head office.
He says security was provided in keeping with Cabinet’s instruction that all directors of the JUTC should be provided with security following the slaying of former JUTC chairman, Douglas Chambers.
According to Barrett, who is deputy chairman of the JUTC board, it was agreed that the NHF would arrange for the security and the JUTC would reimburse the NHF.
According to him, the JUTC has been making these payments.
He says on his instruction, personal security ceased at the end of August, and home security ceased earlier this month.
In relation to the award of the contract to manage the pension scheme for NHF staff, Barrett admitted that Capital and Credit Merchant Bank submitted its bid four days after the July 26 deadline.
But, Barrett says, the bank was chosen by the Operations Review Committee of the Board and approved by interim chairman Daniel Dawes.
He says he was appointed trustee of the pension scheme after the award of the contract was decided on.
Chairman of the NHF board, Ryland Campbell, is also the chairman of Capital and Credit Merchant Bank.