-ethnic relations body report
An Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) investigation has found that there is no proof that a doctor at the Georgetown Public Hospital physically abused or used racial slurs to Charmain De Mendonca, an accident victim as she had alleged.
“There is no finding, based on the facts, of proof of racial discrimination on the part of the doctor in the execution of his duties at the time in question. This is due to claims of the Complainant not being corroborated by the statements of the witnesses on record and the reports of the investigations conducted in the matter. However, the robustness/thoroughness of the investigations may be in question and its use as the basis for conclusions on the allegations of the complainant of racial discrimination”, the ERC said in a report released this week.
De Mendonca had made the allegations in March after being involved in an accident and was taken to the medical institution where she said that the doctor assaulted her while using racial slurs.
In its recommendation, the ERC said, “Notwithstanding, while not within the mandate of the ERC, the Commission will bring to the attention of the GPHC its findings/views of the obvious administrative challenges facing the GPHC and how same can result in claims of abuse, including racial discrimination”.
