President of the PSA Watson Duke says workers are expected to intensify protest action today in an attempt to have CEO of the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) Ameena Ali removed. He said they were upset over the manner in which Ali had been treating them and intended to continue their protest until she was removed.
He said union officials met with the chairman of the ERHA Stephan Bhagan yesterday. According to Duke, Bhagan promised to raise the issue at an emergency meeting of the board. He said the board meeting did not take place and Bhagan was unable to give a date when the matter would be discussed. Duke said there were also health and safety issues affecting staff at the hospital and they were not prepared to work under those adverse conditions.
He said the hospital was in emergency mode yesterday as the workers signed in and signed out. He said the protest would continue until the matters were resolved. The workers have been protesting since Monday outside the Sangre Grande District Hospital. Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan told the T&T Guardian yesterday the hospital’s management was not aware of the reason or reasons for the workers’ protest.
Khan said the workers were advised to put their complaints in writing so Bhagan could attempt to deal with it at the level of the board. Khan said the hospital was not adversely affected by yesterday’s protest. He said as soon as the workers concerns were put in writing it would be addressed. Questioned about claims made against Ali, Khan said he was not aware of those matters. He said several doctors and other health workers had spoken favourably about Ali, describing her as a good CEO.