Tiago Petinga / Lusa
To respond to Gulf Med Aviation delays in the helicopter grant, the state made a direct adjustment with this same company. This direct adjustment is still being used to avoid the penalties of 730 thousand euros per day defined in the initial public tender.
Faced with the absence of operational emergency helicopters due to delays by Gulf Med Aviation, the public tender winning company, the state has advanced with a direct adjustment of 4 million euros to ensure means during the transitional period. Surprisingly, the adjudication was done precisely to Gulf Med Aviation, the same company that caused the problem by not meeting the delivery of air media within the stipulated period.
The Gulf Med Aviation, concessioned by 77 million euros to ensure the emergency medical service, was also at the center of a Malta corruption scandal. The company has been associated with the private management of maltese hospitals through contracts with Vials Global Healthcare and, later, with Steward Health Care: two companies involved in diversion of millions of euros in public funds for personal and luxury expenses. Gulf Med operated, in partnership with these companies, the ambulance helicopter service, says.
There is also a large disparity of costs in contracts entered into by the Portuguese State with the company compared to other countries. In Ireland, Gulf Med provides two helicopters for one million euros per year, while Portugal will pay 15.5 million for four aircraft, 15 times more for only twice the means.
According to contractual conditions, helicopters should be operational since July 1 and available for use 24 hours a day. However, Only two were ready At the beginning of the month and only 12 hours daily are available, one of which is a cheaper model than agreed.
A Air Force had to intervene To collect these flaws, providing an extra helicopter due to delays in pilots formation, an even more intriguing situation given the connection of Gulf Med representative in Portugal, Raquel Rodrigues, Una Aviation, a company specializing in aeronautical formation.
According to the contract, the contract also stipulated Sanctions of 732 thousand euros per day If there were failures or delays in starting operations. However, with this new direct adjustment, the collection of these fines is not being made.
GESTICOPTER, a Portuguese company that has lost the public tender to Gulf Med, has already known that it will complain to the Court of Auditors to oblige INEM to those responsible to personally reimburse the state For penalties that are not being charged – in total, the amount already exceeds 7.3 million euros. The company will also complain to the Attorney General and the European Commission on suspicion of favoritism.
