Inspector General filed court case against Minister of VSA for issuing instruction — Case was pulled back after Minister Lee withdrew the instruction.

April 5, 2017

PHILIPSBURG:— The Inspector General of VSA Earl Best representing the Inspectorate filed a court case (appeal) against the Minister of VSA Emil Lee for issuing an instruction against the Inspectorate (gag order) due to information the Inspectorate released to SMN News.
The hearing was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm but it disappeared off the docket after the Minister withdrew his gag order (instruction).
SMN News asked Minister Lee about the court case that was filed against him and he said that the case regards patients/people’s privacy which the inspectorate chose to release to SMN News. He also stated that the Inspectorate appealed the instruction because they claimed they were not heard before the instruction was issued. He said he is now in the process of hearing the inspectorate and will decide how to proceed in the matter.
As for the audit, Minister Lee called for on February 8th, he said that the St. Maarten Medical Center and the Inspectorate have been in discussions and that he does not know how far the discussions are and as such he does not have a date that is set for the audit.
The Minister went on to say the hired a consultant that will arrive on St. Maarten on April 16th and his duties is to conduct an assessment “baseline study” within the Ministry including SMMC.
Asked if he is aware that water testing was done at SMMC and it turned out that legionella disease in found in water at SMMC. Minister Lee said he is not aware of any water testing done at SMMC and he also did not get any information as to legionella being in the water.