Medical practitioner Dr Rolerick Hinds will be heading to court over the non-renewal of his employment contract.
Hinds, who has worked in various public medical institutions for the past 24 years, received a letter on July 12 from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and signed by Permanent Secretary Wayne Marshall, informing him that his contract for the post of clinical medical officer of health would not be renewed.
The letter stated: “The Ministry of Health and Wellness wished to inform you that after careful consideration a decision was made not to renew the contractual agreement. The ministry apologises for the tardiness in conveying the decision and proposes to pay one month’s salary in lieu of notice of non-renewal pursuant to the provisions of the agreement. The annual gratuity and terminal pay will also be disbursed . . . .”
It further advised Hinds to contact Ann-Marie Burke Brewster, principal personnel officer, should there be any queries relating to his termination certificate and ended by stating: “The ministry expresses its gratitude for your contribution to health care at the Geriatric Hospital and by extension to Barbados . . . .”
When contacted, Hinds, 55, the Democratic Labour Party candidate who tried to unseat veteran politician Cynthia Forde in St Thomas, directed the Sunday Sun to Caswell Franklyn, general secretary of Unity Workers’ Union.
Judicial review
Franklyn, pointing out that Hinds was a member of his union, disclosed that they were planning to take the matter to court for judicial review.
“He is in an established public service post. So getting a letter from the permanent secretary to terminate an established public service post is
not done. The permanent secretary does not have authority to terminate his contract. We will take it to court for judicial review.
“But, of course, I will write the permanent secretary first, but I know that he’s in error. I will also write the director general because the only person that can dismiss him from the public service is the president,” Franklyn said.
He admitted that there were complaints against the doctor but said they were not substantial.
“He had a stroke and he’s recovering. So he’d come out to work and he was dozing off and people complained about that.”
Franklyn said they had already consulted with an attorney.
“There is a similar case where the hospital did the same thing to a doctor and the court ruled it was wrong. So I don’t know why they would go and do it when the court has already ruled on a similar matter.”
The Sunday Sun was reliably informed that two Fridays ago, a message went out to nurses at various polyclinics to call out sick in a show of support for Hinds. The message charged that his termination was “unfair dismissal” and that he was informed his contract would not be renewed “without giving any meeting, warning or reason”.
Hinds, a father of four and married to a nurse, Donna Hinds, contested the 2018 and 2022 General Elections. (MB)
