‘We cannot discourage whistle-blowers’–Bulkan
-explanation to be sought on transfer of nurse Marks
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan says that he would intervene if he establishes that nurse Sherlyn Marks, who complained about now resigned Region 5 Councillor Carol Joseph, was transferred because she had blown the whistle.
Marks was abruptly transferred by Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Five, Ovid Morrison, a day after Stabroek News reported that she had lodged a complaint about Joseph allegedly abusing her position to access pain-killing medication from the Fort Wellington Hospital.
Bulkan told Stabroek News on Friday that his government does not want to be ever seen as targeting whistle blowers and condoning acts of retaliation against those who were brave enough to speak on out issues of corruption; especially when it promotes whistle blowing as part of its transparency mechanism.
“I would probably seek a more in-depth explanation because at face value it (the transfer) seems that the coincidence was a little extraordinary,” Bulkan told Staboek News.
Further, he added: “We cannot discourage whistle blowers we have to promote persons out there who are prepared and who have the courage to expose corruption wherever it may be taking place. We cannot sweep things under the carpet. Should we do so, and we are reminded by our leader that were we to adopt that approach, by 2020 the carpet would be thick and we do not want that.
One day after her story was published, in which she lamented that her complaints against Joseph’s abuse of office had seemed to fall on deaf ears of authorities, Marks was transferred from the Fort Wellington Hospital, where she was stationed.
Marks lodged complaints twice last year against the former Councillor’s frequent access to pain medication. The nurse had copied her complaint to leading health, regional and government officials but no action had been taken.
Marks’ original letter of complaint was sent to the Regional Health Officer and the acting Ward Sister of the Fort Wellington Hospital. It was also copied to Dr Kay Shako, Director of Regional Health Services; Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer; Taramattie Barker, Chief Nursing Officer; and a Matron Lyken (only name used), who is the acting Ward Sister. None of these persons acted on the complaint. Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal and former Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Trevor Thomas were also sent copies of the letter.
The Ministry of Public Health to date has not said anything on the matter although this newspaper was told by Minister Volda Lawrence’s Public Relations Officer Terrence Esseboom, that she would address the issue when she returned from overseas. At the time Marks was transferred, Lawrence was out of the country on travel duty.
Two days after she found herself at the centre of the allegations that she was using her office to access the prescription drugs at a public medical facility, Joseph resigned from the council.
Marks had informed Stabroek News that she was summoned by Morrison on April 19, the same day the news item was published in Stabroek News. Morrison, she said, complained about her going to the press and how her letter of complaint had not been sent to him. Later that day she received her letter of transfer.
“Approval is hereby given for you to be transferred from Fort Wellington Hospital to the Bath/Experiment Health Centre with effect from 20th April 2017…,” the letter sent from the Office of the Regional Democratic Council of Region 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice) and addressed to Marks read.
The letter had stated that the reason for the transfer was “in an effort to establish good vaccination coverage within this catchment area.”
The nurse had pointed out that she never requested a transfer and felt as if she was being targeted for her role in bringing to light the issue of Joseph’s alleged abuse of office.
Bulkan said on Friday that while he read in the newspaper of Marks’ transfer, he has not established for himself as yet that the information was correct.
“I have seen those reports in the media. I am not sure those reports are accurate. Generally one cannot assume everything you read in the newspaper is accurate,” he posited.
He explained that if it was found that the report was indeed accurate he would ask the REO for an in-depth explanation because the timing of the transfer and the newspaper publication on the matter seemed “a little extraordinary”.
It is unclear why Bulkan has not yet elicited an explanation on the transfer.
Bulkan said that his position was that acts of malice against whistle blowers could not be condoned.
“I remind myself every day that we came to office on a pledge and promise of change. Not continuity and it means that we can’t practice two standards. If it was wrong yesterday then it has to be wrong today because we cannot be practising continuity when we promised change. That is my position and that is where I stand,” the Minister of Communities stressed.