PNC domination is alive and thriving in Region 5

Apr 24, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I write in response to a letter in the Kaieteur News (Friday, 21 April) in which the Regional Executive Officer of Region 5, Mr. Ovid Morrison, questions my qualifications to determine “the right to so confidently declare how much medication a patient should or should not get?” This is, of course, in response to a previous letter in the same medium in which I exposed a high profile APNU+AFC Councillor in Region 5 being given more medication than is required. By now, the entire nation knows that the APNU+AFC Councillor is the highly erratic and controversial Carol Joseph.
I will not question Morrison’s qualifications to determine which community in Region 5 is more deserving of having infrastructural development work done, as opposed to others that have been neglected. Neither will I question his motive to funnel government’s resources to develop communities of a certain community over another.
I will not justify my training as a New York State certified Emergency Medical Technician – Defibrillation, that enables me to identify symptoms associated with drug abuse. I will also not dwell on his ignorance of judging Sherilyn Marks’ qualifications and ability to do the same, given that he knows absolutely nothing about this heroine’s background as a highly trained Staff Nurse/Mid-Wife, and that her entire family is made up of doctors and nurses, including her sister who is a doctor; her father who was a staff nurse and now a pharmacist; and her mother who has given 33 years of service to this country in the nursing profession as a registered nurse/midwife, all of whom nurse Marks consults with on a regular basis. But I don’t expect Morrison to know that. He owes this lady an apology.
Like the RHO, Dr. Steven Cheefoon who is now actively trying to influence nurses in a very intimidating way, at the Ft. Wellington Hospital, to sign their names on a petition in an effort to remove staff nurse Sherilyn Marks from the region. The Region 5 CEO, Mr. Ovid Morrison is obviously trying to protect one of his own PNC/APNU comrades, and to hide all the questionable things taking place at the Ft Wellington Hospital under his watch. PNC paramountcy is indeed alive and well in Region 5.
But even if neither nurse Marks nor myself were “qualified” to determine what amount of drugs constitute an abuse, let me assure the REO, that it is highly unusual for anyone to be taking injections of 100mg of the highly addictive drug, Pethidine, almost every day since last September, and occasionally twice a day, unless that person is an addict. If a Commission of Inquiry (COI) is ever conducted into these allegations of drug abuse, and I hope one is forthcoming, the level of abuse and cover-up they would unearth would be nothing short of phenomenal. The REO is a friend and colleague of Carol Joseph. If he did not know of her addiction, he should have known. Morrison is just like the others who, like the ostrich, bury their heads in the sand to ignore and to cover up this abuse of authority by a known and fearful notorious character.
Addiction Hope, an online Christian-based organization that is dedicated to helping people learn more about various forms of addiction and mental health disorders, wrote about the drug Pethidine: Its use, signs and symptoms of abuse. (https://www.addictionhope.com/blog/pethidine-use-of-the-drug-signs-and-symptoms-of-abuse/) It says, “Historically, pethidine has been used for both acute and chronic pain management, including during labor and delivery. Pethidine has uses during and after surgical operations, however, is highly addictive and may not be the first line of treatment for longer medication treatment… Pethidine should not be used for chronic pain as other multi-modal options exist for long-term pain management, where the risk of dependency is lessened… In fact, in 2003 the World Health Organization removed pethidine from the model essential drugs list stating that “morphine is the preferred potent opioid… Drug seeking behaviour by ‘double doctoring’ and illegal possession can result in 7 years’ imprisonment while trafficking, exporting or importing can result in a life sentence (in the USA).” It also makes the point that, “Clearly, professionals with increased access to substances like Pethidine are at risk for substance abuse and dependency… Regular use of Pethidine can result in dependency, and drug seeking behaviours. Specifically, regular or long-term use of Pethidine leads to the development of tolerance, requiring a user to take more of a substance in an effort to match the initial high.” (end of quote)
Editor, contrary to what is being reported, Staff Nurse Sherilyn Marks did not write any letter to the press, I did. Neither did she disclose any confidential patient information to me. I got that from a confidential source that will remain anonymous. I merely contacted nurse Marks to confirm that her letter, sent to me by a colleague, was in fact written by her.
I am pleased that Carol Joseph was finally forced to resign as a Region 5 RDC Councillor, as she was not only an embarrassment to the region and government, but also a liability to the PNC/APNU.
I will be monitoring the progress of Staff Nurse Sherilyn Marks very closely. And if the RHO, Dr. Steven Cheefoon is vindictive enough to believe he can force her out of the region with his petition, he should be prepared to defend this action in a court of law, and his medical role and participation in Joseph’s addiction and subsequent cover up to the Guyana Medical Association.
Harry Gill, MP (PPP)

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