In a letter of March 25, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Malcolm Watkins peremptorily removed Dr Marlan Cole from his position as Director of Food and Drugs.
The brusqueness of the removal was stunning in its immediacy and spontaneity. Dr Cole and Mr Watkins had had a meeting on the morning in question and this then triggered the correspondence in question.
“I am writing to inform you that a policy decision has been taken by the Administration of this Ministry to re-assign you laterally within Programme 6 to lend technical support to the Director of Standards and Technical Services”. This explanation immediately begs the question of what will become of the FDD if its Director now has to “lend technical support” to the Director of Standards. Is the Director of Standards unable to perform his/her duties?
The missive went on to say that the administration required Dr Cole to assist with the capacity building of the department with particular focus on quality control. Extraordinarily the re-assignment was to take effect the very day meaning that Dr Cole started out the day as Director of Food and Drugs and hours later he had become a technical supporter to the Director of Standards and Technical Services.
Attached to the letter were some of Dr Cole’s new duties.
It also stated the following: “In view of the above, you are instructed to meet with the Chief Medical Officer and the Director of Standards and Technical Services to discuss the scope of your work, the specifics of your new role and the activities to be undertaken in that regard.
“You are also directed to undertake a seamless and comprehensive handover of the operations of the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department to Dr Narine Singh, Chief Medical Officer (ag), which should include ALL work assignments and properties of the Government of Guyana…”
It must be noted that Dr Cole has been at the Food and Drug Department (FDD) for 20 years in various capacities until he acceded to the top position. The unceremonious manner in which he was sent packing by Mr Watkins will raise serious questions as the letter contained no indication of dissatisfaction with Dr Cole’s performance. There is clearly more to be said on both sides and the public awaits.
Targeting of public servants who discharge their functions professionally and are not inclined to be directed by politicians has been a well-established malignancy here. The recent example of Dr Vincent Adams at the Environmental Protection Agency is a case in point and the PPP/C administration must not be allowed to get away with targeting public servants who are doing their jobs only for them to be substituted with place persons who are malleable to political directions.
The FDD has an enormously important mandate and role in protecting the public from substandard foods, expired and dangerous drugs and defective medical devices. It is also responsible for inspecting and licensing manufacturers and importers, registering pharmaceutical products and investigating consumer complaints.
Its functions are addressed in the Food and Drug Act of 1971 and the Food & Drug Regulations of 1977. To this end the Department is mandated to ensure that items to which the Act and Regulations apply are safe and pass quality checks to enter regional and international markets.
The FDD has been seriously underfunded and understaffed for years which makes the removal of Dr Cole even more troubling. Despite these shortcomings, the department has done its best to discharge its mandate and has taken action against errant importers and distributors here.
In some segments of the private sector, it is well-known that the FDD and its personnel are seen as irritants to unbridled and illicit importation of goods. Given the manner in which Dr Cole has been removed members of the public would be justified in being concerned at what has motivated it. Who is his intended replacement? Does this person have superior credentials along with the experience that he has accrued? The government and the Ministry of Health should answer these questions.
