THE Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) announced yesterday that it has informed police about a “fraudulent” letter purportedly bearing the signature of a senior executive that alleges Dame Marguerite Pindling owes the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) a substantial amount of money.
The letter in question was sent to The Tribune, and reportedly other media houses, on Monday. The Tribune did not report its contents.
When contacted about the letter on Monday, PHA Managing Director Herbert Brown told The Tribune that he “absolutely” did not sign the letter in question. He asked The Tribune for a copy of the letter and then pledged to turn the matter over to the police.
Yesterday the PHA released a statement on the matter which read: “The Public Hospitals Authority strongly denies the authenticity of a letter now being circulated dated June 20, 2014 and purportedly signed by a senior executive of the authority.
“The matter, which has been reported to the police, alleges an outstanding amount owed to the authority by Dame Marguerite Pindling. The PHA wishes to state for record that Dame Marguerite does not owe any monies to the authority and therefore has no outstanding bill with its institutions and or agencies.”
Dame Marguerite, the widow of the country’s first Bahamian prime minister Sir Lynden Pindling, was admitted to PMH in 2007 and 2011.
The false claims have surfaced following the reports last week of real property tax owed by Dame Marguerite on her home in western New Providence which has now been paid. Dame Marguerite, deputy governor general, is said to be the front-runner to replace Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes when he demits office early next month.
Comments
John 9 years, 10 months ago
THIS here confirms that the recent frenzy in the media about who what to government was not out of concern that the people owed, but an attempt to smear a persons character just to bring them down. When they can no longer find dirt swept under the carpet, or skeletons in the closet, then they turn to invention.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 10 months ago
Is the claim fraudulent or is the source of letter fraudulent? Basically, it's obvious that someone forged a letter, but are the claims in the letter correct? Did Mrs Pindling owe PMH a substantial amount of money before June 19, 2014? I don't support anyone's private business being made public, but for key positions in the country, especially the highest, the position holder should not have a record as a bill dodger.
John 9 years, 10 months ago
Dame Marguerite, the widow of the country’s first Bahamian prime minister Sir Lynden Pindling, was admitted to PMH in 2007 and 2011.
#The false claims have surfaced following the reports last week of real property tax owed by Dame Marguerite on her home in western New Providence which has now been paid " READ AND COMPREHEND!
Publius 9 years, 10 months ago
So tell us this. When the Tribune reported on the Real Property Tax matter, they didnt go down to the government's offices to read her files to know for themselves whether what they were being "leaked" was true - they just reported it. So how come all of sudden they now - without ever telling us about this letter in the first place, are telling is the letter is a fraud? How do they know whether the CONTENTS of the letter (which they hid from the public) are not true? They also told us her Real Property Tax was paid off in full - SAYS WHO? Did the Tribune go to the Finance office and actually see for themselves the receipt of full payment against her files of monies owed? How come there was such "boldness" about the Real Property Tax leak that the Tribune did not independently confirm before reporting it, but now they are "cautious" about this second leak, especially given where the leak came from - which is also what they are hiding from the public? How come the public did not know about this letter until the PHA issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, when the media got the letter on Monday and spoke to the head of the PHA about it? THAT is a story in itself, the letter and Brown's response - but the media kept it back from the public - WHY? Why are you telling us the PHA's response to a letter, but never told us about the actual letter itself? It seems to me that the media is now backing away from negative stories on Ms. Pindling following the anger it drew from high-ranking PLPs - hence their quickness to report "paid in full" though they did not independently verify that as the media must always do, and why they hid this letter from the public.
John 9 years, 10 months ago
What is the threat of a lawsuit?
Publius 9 years, 10 months ago
Good question. Whatever the threat is, it is apparent the media is now backing off and holding back.
birdiestrachan 9 years, 10 months ago
Apparently the print media had more confidence in the property taxes bill than they had in the hospital bill . They say it is common knowledge as to who leaked the bill. and I suppose some one will keep an eye on the person . I do not know how much good it did them., because their efforts were to stop her from being Governor General and to sully Mrs.Pindling's name. Their efforts were in vain..
It is to bad they choose not to publish the Hospital bills. That would have given the haters much joy . And the tongues would wag and wag. But what ever God has for one they will get and no man or woman can do anything about it. Of course they can stew and stew some more.
Publius 9 years, 10 months ago
Here comes the bringing in of "god" again, like a god has anything to do with a person either following or not following the laws of the land relating to what must be paid to the government. As for these political patronage appointments, they have nothing to do with a god. Politicians make these decisions for the varying reasons they all make them.
environmentalist 9 years, 10 months ago
Listen, the woman should have never been in debt...when you have lots of money and you have bills just pay them. Karma is a Beetch and they should know better...I don't give a rat's ass who Dame whatever think she is...she is no fricking better than the rest of us Bahamians. Pay your bills and avoid the negative press...IT IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE!
John 9 years, 10 months ago
Seems that there is a serious effort underway to make this government appear ineffective unseat them. Just look at the screaming headline on today's Tribune. Haven't seen a headline that big and in color since the news of the Newbold athlete getting in trouble with firearms in some college abroad. The issue here is not weather it is a PLP government or an FNM government or even a DNA for that matter. The concern is that if we start bringing down and unseating democratically elected governments before their term expires, then where will this lead? Least we forget the FNM was not too popular towards the end of their term in office and many of the issues they needed to address when they were the government are still up in the air. Just hope this government doesn't rattle to the noise in the market and fall apart.
Publius 9 years, 10 months ago
Cut it out. No one can unseat the government outside of the voters or a coup. The boogeyman isn't going to show up one night and pull their government card. PLPs are giving this information to the media anyway, so what then is your perspective on that?
sheeprunner12 9 years, 10 months ago
The bottom line is that this country is being sold out by the black political elite and strangled by the white mercantile elite and marginalized by the foreign investor............. the Great Dame is just one lump of the big heap of shit out there................................... SMH
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