PM tells health minister to choose between his medical practice and cabinet

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters Monday she has given Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan an opportunity to make a choice between his private medical practice and his responsibilities as a government minister.

Dr Khan is one of the country's better known urologists and has continued his practice since being appointed health minister. He told the media over the weekend he did not advise the Prime Minister that he was continuing to see patients and perform operations.

In addition he said his lawyers have advised him that he is not breaking the law. However, the popular view is that his actions are unethical since cabinet ministers are supposed to focus on their government responsibilities alone.

The Prime Minister was firm with respect to the matter, saying if Dr Khan doesn't make the decision then she will have to act.

"I advised him that not only is such behaviour inappropriate, it is untenable, and therefore he has to make a choice whether he wants to be in private practice or to be a Minister...Should he fail to make any decision, I will take the decision. He cannot hold both positions," she told reporters.

Khan repotedly told the media over the weekend he didn't want to "add to the Prime Minister's stress" so he didn't tell her he was continuing with his medical practices.

Persad-Bissessar said stress is not a problem. "I am not as fragile as people think I am. I don't get stressed out very easily. You might have to ask him why he had that view. I do not share that view. It is inappropriate, it is untenable. I am very clear in my mind about it," she said.