By Staff Writer
ROSEAU, Dominica, Oct 13, CMC -Doctors employed with the Dominica China Friendship Hospital, Tuesday, staged protest action in support of their demands for the payment of outstanding salaries as well as job security.
General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Thomas Letang, told reporters that some doctors have not been paid their salaries dating back to July and that they have been sent home without any idea “whether they will be rehired or not.
“They have not been paid their salaries. Allowances have not been paid for a few months, and when we talk about on-call and call-out sessions and so on, and those kinds of things have not been paid.”
Efforts to get a response from the authorities have so far proven fruitless.
Letang said that in addition, the Dominica Hospitals Authority (DHA) has since employed additional staff “because with a new hospital, you will need additional staff and equipment…and instead of making money available to pay those people…”
He said he has been informed that the DPA has been advised to “let these people go, and my understanding is that about 83 people have been employed, and rather than making the funds available, they were told …do not continue with these people’s employment.”
Letang told reporters that the union had been advised that a Canadian national had provided funds for the purchase of equipment but that the “money had to be used to pay some staff.
“So the purpose for giving the money, that was not kept. Now that money, nothing much left, and there is no money to pay these people. Not only are doctors affected, but others are also affected, and other domestic workers.
“But we are starting with the doctors. We are hoping that as the action continues, as it escalates, other people will be able to mobilise other people to be part of it,” Letang told reporters, adding that doctors at the Marigot Hospital are also under severe strain.
Letang said that there is also the issue of security at the hospitals, with doctors being abused, staff being attacked physically, “and prompt response to their complaint, all incidents are not made, because they have to wait until somebody comes from police headquarters to come to their rescue.
Letang said that the doctors would be meeting at the PSDU headquarters later on Tuesday to devise their strategies going forward.
He urged the medical practitioners to stick together, adding, “We can only succeed if we stick together and I don’t think we …should take a position that people should be afraid …because they will be victimised.
“Victimisation is not an issue. Victimisation is not an issue,” Letang said, adding that the doctors should not allow themselves to be taken for granted.
“Your job is extremely important. Your job is extremely important. Your job, your work, your profession is your work, your profession is important. And we cannot sit and allow things to happen.”
“ And unless we take action, nothing will be done. So, unless we take action, nothing will be done. So, the situation is one that calls for all of us to be in that thing …together.
“We are not only talking about the salaries. I mean, you are working, and at the end of the month, you are not paid your salaries on time. That cannot be good,” he said, noting that the doctors provide a service and the employer is expected to pay for that service.
Letang said he had “a very good meeting” with the Health Minister Cassanni Laville about a year or so ago, “and he agreed that no doctor would be getting a contract for less than one year.
“After that, it will be reviewed and will be extended to two years. And thereafter, to an interim appointment. That was the agreement between the union, not written, but coming out of the meeting. That is what we left the meeting about.
“So I’m surprised to know that people are getting two months, three months, even six months, letters of employment, not even contract letters of employment. And that the gratuity owed to those people from 2023 has not been paid.”
Letang said he wrote to Dr. Kenneth Darroux, the Chief Executive Officer of the DCFH, and that he had also received a call from him indicating that the issues would be discussed
“That was not done. He did have all the issues, all the things that were in the letters. He did on the letter. Sorry, he did acknowledge these were issues, but there was no commitment.
“Well, there was an indication that it would be addressed and that the Authority would be working in your best interest. There was no indication that this thing will be resolved by a certain date,” Letang said, adding, “we have to send out a very, very loud message and do not be afraid”.
More than 80 doctors and other staff at the hospital protested over the late payments and other issues with the chief executive officer of the Dominica Hospitals Authority (DPA), Dr. Kenneth Darroux, describing the protest action as “a bit unfortunate”.
“As you can imagine, as the CEO, today has been a very difficult morning for me. First and foremost, trying to strike a balance, of course, between the well-being of staff and also that services continue at the hospital,” Darroux told reporters following a meeting with the protesters and the union.
“Let me just say that the events of today are just a bit unfortunate in terms of the culmination really of an exercise that began sometime earlier this year, a joint exercise with the Ministry of Health, where we realised that, of course, with the advent of the board, there were several employees, including doctors, some 80-something employees who were employed at the hospital, with really no clear job tenure.”
Darroux said that the exercise began in January, thanking all stakeholders, including the Health Minister Cassanni Laville, for their efforts “in getting this thing to a conclusion.
“I want to put on the record that I did meet with all the categories of staff last week, Wednesday, to explain to them the situation. I tried as much as possible to be transparent with all of them, give them the chronological events leading up to where we were, and, of course, also give them reassurance that all efforts were being made to ensure that they get paid.
“Again, I’m thanking the Minister…for making himself available. Clearly, the assurance was given that salaries will be paid before the end of tomorrow,” Darroux said, noting that an assurance had been given “that this is not going to recur, because, as I said, Cabinet has approved the necessary papers, the necessary recommendations to deal with this”.
He insisted that the situation had “never really been a financial issue, more an administrative human resource issue.
“ Again, it’s unfortunate, as I said, it’s very, very unfortunate that it had to, you know, this climax, you know, into this unfortunate event today,” Darroux added.
For his part, Letang said that the doctors and other stakeholders are pleased with the outcome.
“ We met; we had a good discussion. The officers will be paid their salaries by noon, that is tomorrow, noon tomorrow. The allowances, they will have to verify who is being owed, what the different allowances are, and then a meeting is planned with the Minister …on Friday, where he will provide us with updates as to how some of the issues are going to be addressed and settled.”
Letang said that the doctors had an opportunity to “personally talk about some of the issues affecting them and the way moving forward.
“So, I think it was a very good meeting, and I think, so far, I can see the result that we wanted; we have seen it, but we are not going to rest until all matters are addressed and dealt with once and for all,” Letang told reporters.
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