Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Khan said medical care was not compromised at the institution during the weekend when there was a reported staff shortage.
Khan made this comment to Guyana Times International on Monday after it was reported in sections of the media that patients were left unattended while many staff members had called in “sick”.
According to the CEO, there was indeed a staff shortage during the weekend and the persons who have reported sick were asked to put in some extra work and they did so “admirably”.
He explained that the staff who reported sick were from various wards; however, none were from the maternity section. Khan praised those who pulled their weight, plus worked beyond the call of duty, noting that he is proud of them.
He said the hospital is monitoring the situation as it relates to the staff shortage, pointing out that there was an excellent turnout at the institution on Monday.
While it is evident that the stunt pulled by the staff is in retaliation against the five per cent wage increase imposed on them, the government remains firm in its position.
When contacted, Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford said she is not engaged in any discussions or negotiations with the union to have the situation ironed out. She then declined to comment further on the matter.
Meanwhile, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) President Patrick Yarde also disclosed to this newspaper that he too has not been contacted by any government functionary to discuss or negotiate a possible way forward.
He said the government seems to have no regards for the representations made on behalf of the GPSU members.
Yarde stated that the members, very rightfully, are angered by the blatant disrespect shown to them.
The GPSU president disclosed that to address this situation, he has sent a letter to the police commissioner, indicating that they intend to move away from scattered picketing activities to protest marches to gain the attention of the government.
He added that the union has even given one agency a- 72 hour ultimatum for strike action.
“The situation will be confronted and we will be pushing for that… we tried to do everything to avoid this but government will not let up,” he said.
Yarde called the government’s action “dirty politics”, saying that despite having the money, they refused to sufficiently pay public servants what they are entitled to.
