Health Ministry urged to denounce racist comments by founder of UK firm in contract with Jamaica

 

The Opposition is calling for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to denounce racist comments made against the United Kingdom's longest serving MP Diane Abbott by founder of healthcare technology firm, The Phoenix Partnership, Frank Hester in 2019.

 

The Ministry of Health signed a US$5 million contract with The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) in February last year for the implementation of an Electronic Health Records System in the public health sector.

 

Mr. Hester is reported to have said: "It's like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and you're just like I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she's there, and I don't hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot."

 

After the publication of the remarks, a statement from the healthcare technology firm said Mr. Hester accepted that he was rude about Ms. Abbott - who is of Jamaican parentage - in a private meeting several years ago, but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of her skin.

 

Member of the UK House of Lords, Lord Marland has defended Mr. Hester, saying he is not racist because he does a lot of business abroad, including in Jamaica.

 

Opposition Spokesman on Health and Wellness Dr. Alfred Dawes has chastised the Health Ministry and the government for being silent on the matter. 

 

"Now, we here in Jamaica must be outraged because what has come out in recent weeks is that Lord Marland has said that Mr. Hester cannot be racist because he does lots of business with Jamaica. So, Jamaicans are being used as a stamp of approval to say that this overt racist is not of that type of leaning. Now, we cannot allow our proud history of resistance against oppression and discrimination in any form to be tainted by this action," he pleaded. 

 

The West Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation into the comments made by Mr. Hester who is a top Conservative Party donor.

 

The comments have sparked widespread condemnation and demands for accountability, including protests urging that the millions in political contributions made to the Conservative Party be returned as well as calls for the National Health Service to cancel their TPP contracts.

 

Party leader and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called Mr. Hester's comments "racist" and "wrong", but has not responded to calls for donations to be returned.

 

In the meantime, Dr. Dawes has urging the Ministry of Health to provide transparency regarding its contract with The Phoenix Partnership for the digitisation of electronic health records.

 

He said the significance of this contract has been heightened due to recent events involving company owner Frank Hester.

 

Dr. Dawes said there are serious concerns surrounding the procurement process in relation to the contract. 

 

"It is very concerning that the request of proposals for this contract to digitise our health records was initially US$2.4 million, yet the contract that was signed by The Phoenix Partnership was valued at $5 million. This variation of over 100 per cent is very concerning in light of the cost overruns for the Cornwall Regional Hospital rehabilitation project which has moved from $2 billion to $20 billion," he argued.