Protests in Berbice over New Amsterdam hospital’s CEO

Feb 12, 2019 News

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Director of Health Services in Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens, told reporters that he did not lie to the public when he said that the acting CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Dr. Samantha Kennedy was not fired.
He was picketed by Region Six Health Committee members and PPP-C supporters yesterday outside his office
He had made those statements in a report published online by the Department of Public Information (DPI).
He explained, “The director did not lie to the public. I responded to what I saw on television and on the media that the CEO was fired and I said that the CEO had not been fired. Up to today the CEO is still on the job so I do not know where the notion of the CEO is fired came from.
“I can say clearly that the CEO still remains on the job”.
He added that while he was present at the Health Committee meeting with PPP-C Councillor Zamal Hussain who made the statements at the last RDC Statutory Meeting that Dr. Kennedy was removed, he said he heard the Permanent Secretary “indicate to us that they are looking at appointing a CEO. That could mean that the same person is appointed to the position, or a different person”.
However, as against what Stephens told the media yesterday, it was revealed to the media through a recording of the meeting that the PS did say that they are looking to have someone from Region Six other than Dr. Kennedy fill the position.
The Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams, told the members of the committee with Stephens present that “we are looking at having the CEO position looked at and also have somebody at the region fill that position”.
She added, “We are looking around because we are here to work; we are here to make things happen and so we are going to have the interview done by the ministry so we can have the right people fit the right position.”
It should be noted that when the statements were made at the RDC statutory meeting by Zamal Hussain, Stephens at no point attempted to correct or clarify what was being said by the opposition Councillor.
He however responded to other health matters.
When asked why he did not clear the issue when it was raised, Stephens said, “I did not have all the facts, I had to clarify. After the RDC I had to call my PS for more information and I was reassured that they are looking to appoint someone in the position.”
He recalled that during a previous meeting at the RDC, the Regional Chairman had told him not to speak directly to him when responding to an issue but rather relay the information through the Health Committee Chairman Zamal Hussain.
“So that is why I chose not to say anything, I only responded to what he asked and at that point it was not opportune to me to walk up to Zamal to tell him my thoughts.”.
Hussain told reporters that they have continued their protests because previously the Director of Health Services in Region Six, the Minister of health, and the permanent secretary “are lying to the public”.
He recalled, “They said that they will be replacing the CEO because of the incompetence, mismanagement and all the deficiencies that are in the health sector. Unfortunately, the following day the Director of Health Services held a press conference to say that they will not let go of the acting CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital”.

Hussain opined that it is a sad situation for the region since despite all the deficiencies made public about the health sector, keeping the acting CEO, Dr. Kennedy “is an indication that the APNU-AFC government continues to tolerate mismanagement, corruption, cronyism and all kind of things particularly in the health sector”.
The Chairman of the Health Committee in the region called on the health director for Region Six to apologize to the committee. “He must indicate to the minister that we will not sit by idly and allow the mismanagement of this particular CEO to continue. The lives of people are at stake here”.
After speaking with the media, Stephens interacted and took pictures of the protesters in front his office. He even shook hands with PPP-C Councillor Zamal Hussain. They both shared their thoughts on the entire situation and parted ways peacefully.
Meanwhile, as the protesters were heading back to the New Amsterdam Hospital front they were met by approximately 25 APNU-AFC protesters shouting “Jagdeo must go”. They had a banner in hand that read “No house-to-house registration, No elections” and placards reading, “PPP keep your distance , leave our director alone”, among others.
Some protesters stated that they are countering the claims of the people that the Director and CEO are unfit for the position they hold.
According to the former Public Relations Officer of the N-A Hospital, it is their democratic right to be out protesting.
“We are out here to ensure that we still have our Jevaughn who is our Director and our CEO must remain. We need to give the lady a chance to do she work but you see people do not like changes and because we are advocating for change it is a problem.”
PNC-R executive for Region Six, Mohmaed Hussain, told reporters that the people picketing the hospital and the director are only highlighting the bad sides of the health sector in the ancient county.
He added, “They want to have their own way but they have to know that they are in opposition and they need to stay in opposition.”
Co-coordinator and Field Operation Director for the PNC in Region Six, Pastor Anil Sugrim, of Corriverton, Berbice told the media differently, he said their objective on the picket line in front the hospital is to get GECOM to do a house-to-house registration.
He was asked if they were protesting the hospital for the house-to-house registration process to be carried out and he replied, “yes”.
He later changed what he said and indicated that they were on their way to GECOM and saw the PPP-C protesting so they decided to stop.
Later, the government protesters proceeded to the GECOM office in New Amsterdam to protest for registration to be done before elections are held.

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