Puerto Rico cancels contracts amid federal coronavirus probe

Puerto Rico’s goverr anunced Thursday that she has ordered cancellation of all contracts awarded to people and companies whose names have been publicized as part of a local and federal investigation into canceled purchase of $38 million worth of COVID-19 testing kits.

Gov. Wanda Vázquez spoke at same time a former official with island’s Health Department declined an offer of immunity as she testified before a legislative committee investigating attempt to buy testing kits amid an urgent need for widespre testing.

Vázquez’s turnaround comes a week after she held a press conference defending purchase order that has since been canceled.

Among contracts Vázquez ordered canceled are those awarded to Juan Maldono de Jesús, former director of Puerto Rico’s Maritime Transportation Authority and attorney of Apex General Constructors, which h pledged to deliver one million testing kits from a company in Australia.

“It’s unacceptable that he tried to take vant of government’s crisis,” goverr said.

Maldono could t be immediately reached for comment.

Vázquez reiterated that said she was t aware of intended purchase when asked how it was possible her office did t kw about a contract of that size.

“I cant go into details of each (contract),” she said. “I have to trust in hes of government ncies.”

contract with Apex General Constructors was first reported by local newspaper El Nuevo Día.

Apex, a small Puerto Rico construction company, h said it would source kits from Promedical, a manufacturing company in Australia. Promedical issued a statement to Associated Press saying it h t been in conversation or entered into a contract with Apex, ding that it sells rapid test kits to approved distributors for less than half value identified by Apex.

Vázquez also anunced that a federal official t yet identified would work with Puerto Rico’s health secretary for free to ensure that local government’s response to coronavirus crisis remains transparent.

“We’re t going to allow actions that raise doubts,” she said.

While Vázquez spoke, a Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives committee held a hearing to hear testimony from il Rosa, former auxiliary secretary of island’s Health Department. It’s still unclear who approved purchase of $38 million worth of testing kits that was canceled.

Health Secretary Lorenzo González has said that federal ncies including FBI also are investigating canceled purchase.

Puerto Rico has reported at least 56 deaths and more than 1,000 confirmed cases, with more than 1,460 pending test results. U.S. territory of 3.2 million people has lowest per-capita testing rate compared with any U.S. state as scientists demand widespre testing for an accurate picture of COVID-19 cases on island in middle of a two-month lockdown.