Trinidad and Tobago's health minister Jerry Narace told Parliament Wednesday of an alleged plot between Opposition Chief Whip Dr Hamza Rafeeq and Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh, and Medical Council president Dr Steve Smith, to frustrate Government's plan to recruit Cuban doctors. Narace was piloting the Medical Board (Amendment) Bill 2009, which was passed with the government majority. The bill establishes a panel to grant temporary Trinidad and Tobago registration to Cuban doctors.
Narace read a letter, which he claimed was from board secretary Dr Neil Singh, in which he said Singh claimed that some council members were "vehemently opposed" to the panel.
“Mr Speaker, I am very aware of the members of the Medical Council meeting with the member for Caroni East and Caroni Central and plotting how to frustrate the efforts of this Government trying to give proper medical care,” Narace told the House of Representatives.
Rafeeq immediately denied Narace's charge. “I never met with anyone to plot!” he declared.
The exchange in the House had Speaker Barry Sinanan intrerrupting members from both sides and at one point Sinanan told Narace, “You went on to say something about a plot and in that regard you are imputing improper motives.”
Narace withdrew the word “plot” but demanded that Gopeesingh and Rafeeq say if they met with Dr Smith and other council members. Narace also produced a letter from Gopeesingh about the meeting.
“But look it here, Mr Speaker, Dr Gopeesingh invites members of the Medical Board to meet on doctors issues,” Narace said.
He also produced what he said was Dr Singh's response and read its contents. “I write to you in my private capacity as a medical officer who has been involved with the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago over five years.
"Honourable Minister, the Ministry of Health and the Medical Council have had numerous discussions since early 2008 regarding your request to register Cuban practitioners...
“At our most recent meeting on July 6, 2009, council members had the benefit of all the necessary information regarding the Caricom Treaty with respect to Cuba as well as the status of vacancies presently plaguing the Ministry of Health.
“It is my candid opinion that some of our members are unwilling to compromise with regards to the registration of Cuban medical practitioners in spite of all the above.
"It is clearly evident that council members are partly divided with respect to registering Cuban medical practitioners and painfully obvious that the President’s views conflict with the secretary and other council members, thereby not allowing for any compromise on this issue.”
Narace claimed that Singh had agreed that the Government could set up the panel.
No comments:
Post a Comment