No Deputy CEO appointed at GPHC – Govt

Aug 05, 2016 News

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As far as Government is concerned there has been no appointment of a Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This assertion was yesterday made by Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, when he hosted this week’s post Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.
This publication earlier this week was privy to information that a man by the name of Paul Clarke had turned up at the premier health institution claiming that he had been sent by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Trevor Thomas, to take up the position of Deputy CEO.
Clarke, this publication was told, had reportedly held the position of manager at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre, prior to his surprise appearance and claim.
He, however, did not produce any letter of appointment to the GPHC’s Personnel Department and therefore, stunned a number of senior officials of the hospital when he asked to engage them at a meeting. That meeting reportedly never materialised and the Board of Directors of the hospital, in questioning Clarke’s purported appointment, decided to write to Thomas seeking clarity.
Harmon yesterday observed that based on an article published by this newspaper, the Board had noted that such an appointment, if there was any, is ‘null and void’. He also took note of Thomas’ comment to this publication that he did not institute any such appointment.
Thomas had, however, told Kaieteur News that “he (Clarke) might have been asked to go there, but was not appointed. The Ministry can recommend anybody to the Board, but the decision to appoint resides with the CEO and the Board,” he had asserted.
An official related that part of the legal mandate of the GPHC Board is to appoint and terminate. But added to this, it was disclosed that the position of Deputy CEO does not even exist at the institution. In light of this, one official emphasised that “we are governed by rules and regulations…A position like that (Deputy CEO), if it exists, should be advertised, and interviews done before an appointment could be made”.
“The Government has said that it wants transparency and that is what we are working towards – transparency,” the official asserted. The fiasco has resulted in a delay of the investigation into allegations against the hospital’s Director of Nursing Services (Matron), Sister Collene Hicks. Hicks was recently sent on administration leave to facilitate an investigation.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hospital, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, had revealed that a Committee of Inquiry would be set up to spearhead the investigation of allegations that Hicks was insubordinate and failed to perform in the best interest of the institution. Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Alan Johnson, was expected to oversee the work of the Committee.
But this publication understands that Johnson has since proceeded on a month-long sick leave. When contacted on Wednesday, Thomas did not deny sending Clarke to the hospital to function as Deputy CEO, he however, insisted that he did not appoint him. The Permanent Secretary, moreover, in emphasising that he is not aware that Clarke has been appointed as the Deputy CEO said, “I am looking into the matter and will be better able to clear up the matter by tomorrow (yesterday).”
Kaieteur News was, however, unable to make contact with Thomas yesterday.
At yesterday’s post Cabinet press briefing Harmon commented on yet another controversial matter at the GPHC – the findings of a recently completed forensic audit. The audit, which was conducted by Junior Finance Minister, Mr Jaipaul Sharma, required that substantive CEO of the hospital, Mr. Michael Khan, be sent on administrative leave to facilitate the process.
But reports suggest that although Khan has been cleared of any wrongdoing, the Board is currently divided as to whether he should be reinstated. The Board has written to Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, to preside over that matter.
Speaking on the matter yesterday, Harmon said that although the issue is one that has been in the news and has therefore been engaging the public’s attention, it has not been brought to the attention of Cabinet as yet. According to Harmon, “Cabinet has not been informed by the Minister of Public Health that a decision has been taken for anyone to resume duties based on clearance by the audit.”
He speculated that while the audit would have seen several recommendations being made, only one might have been given attention. He noted that “sometimes when we use the word ‘cleared’ you have to look at it very closely. You might have been cleared of one allegation, but there are several others that have not been addressed. We would have to look at that very closely,” the Minister of State said.

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