The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and nurses of the Linden Hospital Complex are insisting on the removal of Chief Executive Officer Rudolph Small from the post over controversial statements he had made,
Small had suggested that some nurses clocked in their times and then for extramarital liaisons.
The protest by the union and the nurses is entering its third week.
An edited version of a statement issued by the GPSU follows:
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen of the press and electronic media. At our press conference on Friday February 26th, 2021, we shared with you, an overview, and the Union’s position as it relates to occurrences, and the situation at the Linden Hospital Complex where the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) had publicly characterized the female nursing staff as loose and immoral persons who would abandon patients in the evening to go and engage in illicit sexual activities.
Our members at Linden were understandably, very emotionally upset, enraged, and justifiably furious to be characterized by their functional superior in this irresponsible, derogatory and unprofessional manner. They felt betrayed and humiliated. Hence, their desire to be separated and disassociated with such a loose and unethical senior officer, who, instead of contributing to their moral upliftment and motivation, was deliberately dragging their decency into the gutters. Their plea to their Union to come to their salvation attracted an immediate response, giving the fullest support for their protest actions.
The Union wrote the Minister of Health copied to his superiors bringing to their attention what had occurred and stating the Union’s position on the matter. To date there has been no response to the Union’s correspondence, not even an acknowledgement. However, the GPSU was somewhat heartened when it was subsequently informed through the media that the CEO was removed from the position by the Permanent Secretary (PS), this was substantiated in several media reports; surprisingly and shockingly, almost instantly thereafter, we learnt that the PS had rescinded his decision to remove the CEO, and instead instructed him to resume his position at the Linden Hospital Complex. The reversal of the decision by the Permanent Secretary was most disturbing, demoralizing and contributed to a loss of confidence in those in authority handling the matter.
It should be noted that, in addition to his expressions being in the public domain, the CEO admitted using the remarks that the nurses accused him of. These remarks were also recorded by the interviewer. Consequently, these developments have contributed to an untenable situation which is very disturbing to the GPSU and the workers of the Linden Hospital. Since it is now obvious that the CEO’s conduct is condoned and supported by his superiors, including those at the political level and, it appears as though they are prepared to be ruthless in subjecting our members to the humiliation and a hostile work environment. This double standard and obvious insensitive and uncaring conduct by the regime is inconsistent with the public undertaking made, which would be challenged by the GPSU.
I would like to emphasize that the protest actions taken by the nurses are restricted to blocking the CEO from entering their work environment.
Otherwise, they have organized themselves to discharge all their duties in a responsible and professional manner. This responsible approach is being taken to ensure that the hospital’s services to patients and to the community are not disrupted. This culprit must face consequences for his loose, irresponsible, unethical, unprofessional, and vulgar conduct.
The GPSU, in consultation with our attorneys, are exploring legal options with a view to engaging a court of law for redress as it relates to these slanderous remarks.
It is shameful that the head of a Public Sector Agency has reduced himself to launching a vulgar and public attack on professional women, particularly in the month of March when the virtues and advancement of women are under focus. Even more shocking, is the fact that no government official has stood up to condemn this verbal assault on female frontline workers. How can anyone believe that there exist a caring and responsible government that is interested in their welfare, wellbeing and uplifting their morality? How can anyone believe what is on the billboard – a government for all?
Today the aggrieved workers of the Linden Hospital Complex with their colleagues from other regions, consider the Linden Hospital CEO’s obscene public comment also as being attributed to them, are picketing the Ministry of Health as a manifestation of their hurt, anger and the vilification of their integrity, conscientious and total efforts in the public service, front line workers and providers of quality health care.
This is happening at a time when the health care workers are under severe pressure to continue to deliver quality health care in a pandemic environment, without adequate compensation and recognition for their diligent efforts. These front line workers have made a significant impact on the spread of the Covid 19 contagion in Guyana, while thousands continue to die throughout the world. However, all the CEO could offer to his workers in this crisis situation is belittlement of the nurses, women’s character assassination, a degrading statement. Given the nature, content and implications of what was said, all should be disturbed.
The Guyana Public Service Union is therefore reiterating its call for the removal of the CEO from this environment which would restore the dignity and confidence of the workers of the Linden Hospital and their colleagues throughout the country.
It is negligible that good sense has not prevailed so far by the authorities to contain this issue. The GPSU has also decided to inform our sister union regionally and internationally on this matter.
