Camille’s fertility billBy NEWSDAY REPORTERS Monday, May 21 2007
The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago did not know when it approved funding for “medical attention” for Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis to receive at a fertility clinic in the United States, a Cabinet source said yesterday.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source added that Cabinet had indeed approved funding for gynaecological treatment, but had no knowledge that this was to include sessions at a fertility facility.
“We did not approve anything for fertility treatment. Nobody knew anything about that,” the source underscored yesterday.
Cabinet’s disclaimer yesterday came a few days after COP MP, Ganga Singh, speaking in the Lower House last Wednesday quoted from a report of the Comptroller of Accounts which contained details of contraventions of the Government’s individual (Visa Gold) travel card by 29 senior officials, including Robinson-Regis and seven other ministers. Singh said on Wednesday that according to the Comptroller of Accounts’ report, Robinson-Regis had a credit card overdraft of $174,000.
Singh claimed that the money was used to buy jewelry, clothing and light fixtures, among other things. There were also several visits to a US fertility clinic, newspaper reports revealed yesterday. In an immediate response to Singh last week, the Minister said the monies were for medical purposes and had Cabinet approval.
But sources yesterday said that under normal circumstances, fertility treatment is considered to be an elective procedure. Sources added however, that Robinson-Regis, who had twins in January this year, sought treatment for a range of gynaecological problems and that a number of procedures — including fibroid surgery — were recommended and done.
“It was a combination of gynaecological treatment for a medical problem she had been having over a period of time,” some sources noted.
According to a First Citizens Bank statement, Robinson Regis made two payments of US$1,000 (TT$6,304.52) each to American Fertility Service in New York on June 5, 2006. Another payment of a minimal US$100 (TT$630) was made on June 9, followed by two more US$1,000 payments on June 13.
Government sources also said Robinson-Regis believed that the details of her medical history were a private issue and she did not reveal them to the Cabinet, nor to persons very close to her. However, several of her colleagues yesterday attested to the fact that she had medical problems and that her doctor had suggested a range of treatments to deal with these problems which were also designed to preserve her childbearing capacity.
Under the terms and conditions outlined by the Salaries Review Commission (SRC), ministers, their spouses, and unmarried children under the age of 18, are entitled to medical attention/treatment and prescribed drugs at any health care facility under the Regional Health Authority. “Where such treatment is not available at such health care facilities, the cost of any other hospital, institution or nursing home in Trinidad and Tobago is to be met by the State,” the SRC said, in its most recent report.
Opposition sources yesterday questioned the use of the Government credit card to pay for personal items such as jewelry and hair pieces. There was also speculation yesterday, as to whether Robinson-Regis’ candidacy for the Maloney/Arouca seat would be in jeopardy. Maloney/Arouca is the only constituency for which nominations have been called, but for which there has been no screening. Robinson-Regis is the only nominee. The date was set for screening twice, but was cancelled. Robinson-Regis, considered one of the PNM’s strong cards, has been viewed as one of its more competent speakers in Parliament and on the platform. She was at first the Legal Affairs Minister but was “promoted” to the Planning and Development Ministry in October 2003.
According to the revelations made by Singh last week, Robinson-Regis incurred two large payments — of approximately $26,000 and $176,000 — on her Government credit card in May and August of last year. The statements also show:
* Purchase of jewelry at Christies Sothers (New York) for US$6,420 on June 1, 2006
* Purchase of clothing at Max’s Better Dresses (New York) for US$259 on June 9, 2006
* Purchase of items at Bitz N Pieces (New York) for US$607.81 on June 9, 2006
* Purchase of items at Lighthouse Lighting Corp (New York) for US$3,118.99 on June 13, 2006.
Cabinet, according to Minute 2412 of August 26, 2004, approved the card for official overseas travel and local entertainment expenses for 120 government officials and holders of certain offices under the Salaries Review Commission.
The card has a limit of US$10,000 for government holders, and is issued by First Citizens Bank.
Sources also revealed yesterday that FCB officials have been concerned by the disclosures relating to the minister’s Government-issued Visa Gold Credit Card. Robinson-Regis is exploring her legal options, sources said.
About AFS
The American Fertility Services (AFS), located in Midtown Manhattan between Park and Lexington Avenues, was opened in March 2004 offering a range of services including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), sperm and egg freezing and sex selection of offspring.
The AFS also has an office at Washington Avenue, New York.
The 9,000-square-foot facility has four exam rooms and according to information on the Internet boasts of “cutting-edge IVF embryology laboratory, cryogenic facilities for sperm, egg and embryo freezing, and ambulatory surgical centre, all of which are outfitted with the latest technologies to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes for our patients.”
Laparoscopic hysterectomy and excision of severe endometriosis, ovulation induction, assisted hatching are offered at the facility.
New equipment and procedures provide advanced IVF services including sperm separation for sex selection, cryopreservation (sperm, eggs, and embryos) and on-site blood hormone analysis.
The facility is staffed by three fertility physicians, specialists in maternal fetal medicine, urology and psychiatry, two
embryologists and a nurse practitioner.
