Dear Editor,

THE GPHC Board of Directors has been in receipt of several letters from the GPSU, during the period July 2016 to October 2016, with respect to the Union’s concerns of the Commission of Inquiry involving Ms. Colleen Hicks, Director of Nursing Services.

With reference to the Union’s letter dated 22nd July, 2016, the GPHC’s Board of Directors would like to state vividly that it cannot understand the Union’s disagreement and use of the term “obviously biased”, when in fact the Board was in the preliminary stages of deciding on the Commission when this letter was written.

As it relates to the second letter, dated 15th September, 2016, although the Union wrote about the Board being biased and being in disagreement with the Board setting up a Commission of Inquiry, they (the union) still submitted a nominee to sit on the Commission to represent their interest. Their nominee still continues to sit, and is currently active in the work of the Commission of Inquiry.

Finally, on the 10th October, 2016, the Board of Directors once again received a letter from the Union, stating that the Guyana Public Service Union is of the view that the Commission of Inquiry is too unwieldy, and that a smaller commission would better serve the purpose. Moreover, the Union felt that persons sitting on the commission should have no relationship with the Georgetown Public Hospital, whether it was past, present or future. The Union further speculated that it views the commission as a loaded dice, and therefore will not support this Commission of Inquiry.

The GPHC Board of Directors is baffled at the Union’s position that the Commission of Inquiry is biased, since the very GPHC Board of Directors has a representative from the Union who participates in the decision making of the Board, and has never objected or rejected the decision to constitute a Commission of Inquiry.

The Union representative’s only objection was the size of the committee, and it was clarified in detail that the objective of the committee is to ensure that the inquiry can benefit from a wide cross-section of professionals who can ensure that Ms. Colleen Hicks’s matter is dealt with in a just and transparent manner.

Management of the GPHC, in its effort to operate in a transparent and accountable manner, has always treated the GPSU in a cordial manner, since this is in keeping with the principles set out by the Government of Guyana to ensure that the procedures and proper industrial relations’ practices are exercised to give our employees the right to due process and natural justice.

While the governing Board of Directors can only view the GPSU’s position on the Commission of Inquiry as unfortunate, we are determined to operate in an environment where our procedures are transparent in ensuring that our employees are accountable for their actions.

Regards,
GPHC BOARD