By Devina Samaroo
After being unceremoniously ordered out of the New Amsterdam Hospital’s compound on Friday by the facility’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Colin Bynoe, the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya is hoping someone from central government pays heed to the situation, noting that it was utter disrespect to his authority and capacity in the region.
During an interview with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, Dr Ramayya stoutly emphasised that he does not need to follow a protocol to enter the Hospital and that generally, representatives of regional organisations would be happy for him to visit and offer advice.
Reflecting on the series of events in the lead up to the “kick out”, Ramayya explained that he was informed that the operating theatre was not working and therefore, surgeries were cancelled.
As a result, he went to the hospital to investigate the matter.
When he arrived, he said neither the CEO nor the Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephens was present.
“They were apparently in the Boardroom… so when I went in there, I wanted to know what was the problem, so somebody from the hospital maybe called him to say I was there… I can’t recall if he said ‘good morning’ or not, so the man walk straight to me and said ‘REO I want to see you in my office!” Ramayya related.
The REO said he was in for a surprise. “I sat there and he started to give me a lecture about if I want to go to the hospital, I am supposed to follow protocol. Whenever I want to visit the hospital, he has to be aware and Jevaughn has to be aware. As the REO, I don’t see where I have to meet that demand,” Ramayya insisted.
He posited that it is an insult to his authority in the region.
“This is the arrogance of that man… That is disrespectful because although he is the CEO of the hospital, I as the REO, I can go anywhere, this is my responsibility,” he declared.
Ramayya contended that the CEO seems to have a personal vendetta against him because of his televised broadcasts, which sometimes highlights irregularities at the health institution.
“I am on television, if something [is] wrong with the hospital, I am going to speak out because that is what I did for 23 years… And under my supervision, if something is wrong I will talk about it,” he posited, disclosing that many things are wrong with the operations of the hospital under the stewardship of Bynoe.
However, he did not divulge further details except that the CEO has a long record of insulting and verbally abusing hospital staff.
In April, the Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, Haseef Yusuf reported that there had been several complaints issued against the CEO who allegedly has been verbally abusive to visitors and staff of the institution.
Yusuf also alleged that there was also a report that the CEO had physically abused a doctor at the institution. Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton has advised that the doctor report the matter to Police.
The issue was raised at a recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting and Director of Regional Health Services defended Bynoe saying that the doctor was not assaulted.
“I investigated a matter which was proved not to be true, the same doctor came and said he is sorry because of his interpretation of the issue. I personally called the Police and told them to expect the doctor to come to make a report. I did that from my office in front of the ‘complainee’ and the other guy.”
The matter had also been reported to Minister of State Joseph Harmon on April 22, during the Ministry of the Presidency Outreach Programme at State House in New Amsterdam.
However, Stephens said he was now forced to deal with several other matters involving the CEO. “There are several complaints of a said nature. I can assure you that these complaints are being taken seriously. Before I came here this morning, I had to deal with a said complaint. I have engaged the Minister of Health and his Ministry to deal with that matter. There is nothing that comes to my desk or my office that I intend to push under the carpet.”
Regional Chairman David Armogan had also asked the Public Health Minister to investigate the matter involving the CEO.
Meanwhile, prompted on how he intends to address the situation moving forward, Ramayya hinted that central government, after seeing the report in the media, should investigate the matter.
“It is there, the people in Georgetown, they have seen it (the report), let them do something about it. Let them come and find out what are the reasons for this to happen,” he stated.
