The Health Ministry has embarked on a victimisation campaign against nurses who are calling for the removal of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rudy Small, for making inappropriate and derogatory statements. At least, this is according to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
The Union said that the issue remains “unresolved but fluid”. The GPSU expressed disappointment with the response from Health Ministry in addressing the displeasure voiced by the staff.
“Rather than focusing on an amicable resolution, the Ministry has embarked on a massive victimisation campaign comprising actions which are in conflict with the laws of Guyana. For example, they have resorted to:
trumped-up allegations of staff being absent from duty as far back as 2018 – a flagrant violation of the Termination and Severance Pay Act which stipulates a six-month statute of limitation on initiating investigations with a view to disciplinary action; and deductions from employees’ salaries which exceeds the legal limit. The GPSU made it clear that pursuant to the Guyana Public Service Rules of 1987, “fines” are forbidden.
“Despite these acts of victimisation, and what the Union considers as deliberate attempts by the Ministry of Health to bully women into subjection, the staff maintains their loss of confidence in the CEO’s ability to manage the LHC in a professional manner. This has been compounded by the refusal of government to pay Health Care Workers their outstanding Risk Allowance. Several nurses are now in a state of depression, causing the Union to explore the need for counseling. Nevertheless, nurses continue to execute their duties professionally.
The GPSU said that it remains hopeful that good sense will prevail, and the Ministry of Health will change course, and deal with this impasse in an appropriate manner.
Small, last month, publicly characterized nurses at the organisation as loose and immoral persons who would abandon patients in the evening to go and engage in illicit sexual activities. He has since confessed to making such statements and had issued an apology.
