MITTS Ltd yesterday moved to clarify wrong or mistaken information used by sections of the media “intentionally or otherwise” in its reporting.

Although a police investigation into irregularities into the Integrated Health Information Systems procurement process is still under way, MITTS said it was its obligation to publicly respond to ensure that facts replace speculation.

The government’s in-house ICT agency said that its services to public entities are on a payment basis governed by a contractual agreement between the client entity and the company.

“Upon accepting a contract, MITTS Ltd assigns the appropriate resource or resources to deliver on the contractual expectations. Once assigned to a contractual assignment MITTS Ltd resources may work from the client’s site if this is appropriate for the success of the project,” the agency added.

“This is done on several projects of the magnitude of the IHIS. However an assignment to work from a client’s site does not make our officer an employee of our client. Our employee continues to report to us and remains an employee of MITTS Ltd throughout the duration of our contract with our client. This is an entirely normal reality for any consultancy firm in the public or private sector.”

The agency said it was informed by the Investments, Industry and Information Technology Ministry that it required services relating to core information systems and that it wished to enter into a contractual agreement for us to provide these services.

“Following an assessment of resources and contracted deliverables under way, MITTS Ltd decided to assign an individual who held the position of project manager and at the time was on the point of being reassigned from an internal project. The individual assigned by MITTS Ltd is the person currently under investigation.”

MITTS Ltd added that at all times during the period of the contract “the assigned person was a MITTS Ltd employee, subject to MITTS Ltd policies and governance. He was at no point a ministry employee and nor did he belong to the minister’s staff or secretariat”.

The agency said it is awaiting the conclusion of police investigations to assess what action it should take further to what was announced in their statement last week.

“Should it result that irregularities are indeed found to have occurred MITTS Ltd will assume the appropriate responsibility, assume the necessary accountability and will take the relevant action, including measures to minimise the reoccurrence of such irregularities.

“The comments made in (sections of) the media relating to the muzzling of staff by MITTS Ltd on this matter is unfair. All that MITTS Ltd is concerned for is a fair process of justice and that until justice takes it course speculation can only cause unnecessary harm,” MITTS Ltd added.