作者： admin

A staggering $80 million worth of pharmaceuticals intended for Trinidad and Tobago’s national healthcare system expired over a decade-long period while sitting in Ministry of Health storage facilities, raising serious concerns about accountability and systemic inefficiencies within the country’s medical supply chain.

The alarming revelation emerged during Monday’s sitting of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), where officials highlighted critical failures in drug management protocols. Committee members emphasized the urgent need for strengthened oversight mechanisms to protect public health resources and ensure taxpayer funds are properly utilized.

Hasmath Ali, Chief Chemist and Acting Director of the Ministry’s Chemistry Food and Drugs Division, acknowledged the severity of the situation while stressing the non-negotiable requirement for rigorous due diligence in pharmaceutical management. “Due diligence is required to ensure the safety of the population. In circumstances that relate to health, there is no argument from me on that,” Ali told committee members.

Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Attz expressed profound concern over the massive financial loss, questioning whether systemic “lethargy” throughout Trinidad’s healthcare infrastructure contributed to this accumulation of expired medications. She suggested incorporating laypersons into oversight committees to provide fresh perspectives and enhanced accountability measures.

Ali clarified that while the expired drugs fell under the responsibility of a separate procurement and distribution entity, the Ministry recognized the necessity of addressing these systemic shortcomings. In response to the crisis, officials revealed plans to modernize operations through legislative updates to the Food and Drugs Act and digitization of drug registration processes.

North Central Regional Health Authority CEO Davlin Thomas provided additional context, explaining that regional health authorities don’t control procurement decisions. “The issue is not with the procurement process itself, but with how these drugs are managed upon arrival and how they are distributed,” Thomas stated, emphasizing that demand-based procurement originates from public need rather than RHA recommendations.

An anonymous senior RHA official described persistent challenges in inventory management that contribute to pharmaceutical surpluses. The source cited difficulties in accurate forecasting, short decision-making timeframes, and consumption patterns that often differ significantly from procurement orders. Compounding these issues are staff shortages, procedural delays, and strict disposal policies that prevent repurposing drugs nearing expiration.

Despite these challenges, the official noted gradual improvements through enhanced training programs and stricter monitoring protocols, resulting in decreasing expiration rates in recent years.

Cultural Minister Michelle Benjamin faces mounting pressure to address the funding crisis threatening Trinidad’s steelband tradition, as revealed in a recent editorial published by Newsday. The scathing critique exposes what the author describes as corporate exploitation of Carnival celebrations without adequate financial support for the cultural foundations that make the festival possible.

The editorial, submitted by Gordon Laughlin via email, presents a compelling case against what he characterizes as corporate Trinidad’s imbalanced relationship with Carnival. According to the analysis, numerous commercial entities—including hotel chains, event promoters, tourism operators, chambers of commerce, and even energy corporations—significantly profit from the international attention and cultural capital generated by the festival. Despite this financial benefit, these organizations allegedly provide minimal support to the steelbands that create the musical backbone of Carnival celebrations.

Steelbands represent more than mere entertainment, the piece emphasizes. They constitute both the rhythmic heartbeat of Trinidad’s most famous cultural export and a historically significant musical innovation—the only instrument invented during the 20th century that has achieved global recognition. Despite this cultural importance, steelbands reportedly face persistent financial challenges, forced to assemble limited resources annually while corporate entities generate millions in revenue from Carnival-associated activities.

The editorial issues a direct appeal to the Ministry of Culture for immediate intervention, demanding the establishment of mandatory long-term sponsorship contracts for corporations benefiting from Carnival. The author argues that sustained financial commitment represents an essential requirement rather than an optional contribution, framing corporate support as an ethical obligation rather than charitable donation.

The piece concludes with an ultimatum for commercial entities: either provide substantial support to preserve Trinidad’s cultural heritage or relinquish their profitable association with Carnival. The criticism highlights growing concerns about cultural sustainability amid commercial exploitation, presenting a challenge for cultural authorities to balance economic interests with cultural preservation.