CABINET has made a decision to designate Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams as the mediator in the inquiry to have issues resolved facing the management of the Guyana Public Hospital Cooperation.The issues were recently raised in a report submitted by Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton and Williams was mandated by cabinet to submit recommendations for its resolutions within one week. This information was divulged by Minister of State Joseph Harmon at Thursday’s post cabinet press briefing.

The Board of Directors of GPHC recently reinstated Mr. Michael Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the institution breaking a year long stint of being on administrative leave to facilitate a forensic audit into the procurement process at the hospital. It was however reported in some sections of the media that the audit which was conducted by Junior Finance Minister, Mr. Jaipaul Sharma, deemed Khan innocent of any skullduggery.

This however did not find favour with Norton who decided that Khan should not be reinstated. Khan last Friday showed up for work as he was instructed to do so by Chairman of the Board Dr. Max Hanoman via correspondence which stated that he was reinstated. He was however subsequently informed by Minister Norton that he in fact was not reinstated.

The drama climaxed after Dr. Hanoman defied the Minister’s decision and instructed Khan to return to work or face the consequence of possible dismissal by the board. In an invited comment Hanoman said that instruction to have Khan returned to work was based on the findings of the report. “Khan was sent on leave to facilitate the forensic audit… When the findings were released by Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, nothing criminal or fraudulent was found against him. Minister Norton however contended that it isn’t rational to have Khan reinstated as the investigation has not come to fruition.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon at last week’s post cabinet briefing articulated that only one of the allegations made against Khan has been cleared but several others have not been addressed. Khan was CEO for years but was sent on administrative leave on September 9th 2015. Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir is currently acting in the capacity of CEO of GPHC.