JAMAICA | Dr. Alfred Dawes Stands Firm Against Legal Threats In Drill Purchase Scandal

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, May 21, 2025 -  In a nation where healthcare access remains a daily struggle for many, allegations of procurement fraud involving children's medical equipment have ignited a firestorm that transcends political boundaries. 

Opposition Spokesperson on Health, Dr. Alfred Dawes, is refusing to back down amid mounting legal threats, standing as a voice for transparency in a system where the most vulnerable ultimately pay the price for corruption.

"This is not about political gamesmanship. It is about transparency, good governance, and protecting public funds," declared Dawes, whose recent press conference has shaken Jamaica's political establishment to its core.

At the heart of the controversy lies a staggering markup that would make even the most hardened profiteers blush. According to documentation presented by Dawes, Medical Technologies Limited—a company with ruling party MP Donovan Williams listed as a major shareholder—imported two refurbished surgical drills at approximately JMD $250,000 each. 

The bombshell dropped when Dawes revealed that weeks later, a drill of identical make and model was sold to the Bustamante Hospital for Children for an eye-watering JMD $31.5 million.

The 12,500% markup on essential pediatric medical equipment has sparked outrage across Jamaica's political spectrum and civil society.

Rather than addressing the allegations directly, the Jamaica Labour Party has opted for a strategy of deflection and intimidation. "Rather than addressing the serious concerns raised, the Jamaica Labour Party has chosen to attack my credibility and threaten legal action," Dawes noted, with the unflinching resolve of someone who believes sunlight remains the best disinfectant. "I welcome any court proceedings as an opportunity to further uncover the truth and demand accountability."

Dawes has thrown down a gauntlet that cuts to the quick of the matter—demanding the release of serial numbers that would definitively link the imported drills to the one purchased at the vastly inflated price. 

"Who is the Ultimate Beneficial Owner of Medical Technologies Limited? And why has that information not been filed with the Companies Office, as required by law?" he questioned, adding pointedly, "Mr. Williams is in breach of the law in more ways than one."

The case has now been escalated beyond political theater, with Dawes submitting supporting documentation to both the Auditor General and the Integrity Commission for formal investigation.

As Jamaica continues to grapple with limited healthcare resources and overburdened facilities, the alleged diversion of public funds strikes at the heart of public trust. 

The coming weeks will determine whether this represents a watershed moment for accountability in Jamaica's governance systems or another chapter in a long-running saga of allegations that evaporate in the tropical heat before justice can be served.

For a nation where every dollar spent on healthcare can mean life or death for its youngest citizens, the stakes could hardly be higher.

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