PS Watkins’ daily bludgeoning of MoH staff

RESENTMENT AMONG DISILLUSIONED MINISTRY OF HEALTH STAFF IS
MOUNTING against Permanent Secretary (PS) Malcolm Watkins due to his shocking lack of
good manners on parade almost daily at the Lot 1 Brickdam, Georgetown headquarters.
Watkins was among eight new PS appointed in October by the Irfaan Ally government after the
Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration triumphed at the bruising March 2020
polls. Since he replaced his predecessor, Ms. Collette Adams, it was clear that staffers employed
after the PPP/C lost the 2015 elections were in for a rough ride.
Watkins set about dismantling then existing structures and dismissing staff willy-nilly. Several
were at the receiving end of numerous verbal clobbering, in the presence of their colleagues,
from Watkins, before receiving their proverbial ‘pink slip’.
Among themselves, workers portrayed the PS as am arrogant, disrespectful, rude and vindictive
administrator who the government must tame in a bid to strengthen their chances of reelection in
2025. Watkins is said to hold a master of organisational leadership from the Southern New
Hampshire University. However, the abrasive PS displays neither organisational prowess, nor
superior leadership skills since his descent on hapless MoH staff
He is also said to be a certified supply chain professional. Since August 2020, MoH staffers have
only been tethered to constant fear supplied by his crude behaviour.
Before his current appointment, Watkins was Procurement Manager at the of Health Ministry.
But now staffers want to secure help from the government and are beseeching President Irfaan
Ally to throw them a lifeline to escape the PS’ escalating crassitude.

To him, APNU+AFC employees between 2015 and 2020 were all “idiots, crosses (and) political
(dead)weight” on taxpayers who he will “fix”. One employee has so far counted at least 19
colleagues so far controversially let go since Watkins’ toxic arrival.

That figure represents an average of one worker dismissed per month. At this rate, the PS will
have fired more than 60 MoH workers by the time elections 2025 rolls around.

Staffers are questioning the relevance of the Personnel Department and the continued usefulness
of Principal Personal Officer (PPO) Mr. Chetwyn Phoenix whom Watkins seemed to have
neutralised.

“We want to talk out. We want to come out, but nobody looking out for us. The opposition
(APNU+AFC) dey on their own heights and we are left to fend for ourselves,” an employee
bitterly complained.
Watkins’ tyranny has become uncontrollable, and he has now arrogated to himself the right to
dictate who workers must socialise with between 8 am and 4 pm from Monday to Friday, a staff
disclosed.
“He has verbally assaulted and degraded us in several ways, even telling us that certain people
(names given) who used to work there cannot enter the compound (anymore) and if he sees any
employee interacting and or giving information to them, he will personally dismiss them.”
“This is unfair as how can we stop talking to someone because the PS wants us to? That isn’t
fair, but many are forced to stay silent as who do we go to?” another queried rhetorically.
The despotic Watkins once summoned an employee to his office grilling the staffer with probing
political questions, even floating accusations of involvement in the 2020 elections campaign.
The employee ignored his accusations but confessed to www.aroundtheregions.com literally
begging the insouciant PS not to be dismissed.
“I guess he saw that the way he spoke to me brought tears to my eyes. He shouted at me as
though I was his child, but what can I do? I need this job.”

“Many persons have already secured their evidence of the PS’ verbal assaults and disrespectful
manner in operating but are clueless as to who they should hand the evidence over to,” the MoH
employee said.
Watkins, it was alleged, instructed the Personnel Department to dismiss all but one staff member
of the Public Relations and Health Promotion Unit established by former Health Minister, Mrs.
Volda Lawrence when she took over the ministry from Dr George Norton.
In his typical nonchalance, the PS concluded all the PR&HP staff identified for chopping, were
“unfit for government jobs,” a person familiar with the conversation revealed.
“The PPO is attempting to do things according to the law…but the PS feels that he can, and
should, run every department. As a matter of fact, even the Procurement Unit is personally
micromanaged by PS Watkins. If you want to buy a pencil, the PS has to give approval and
decide from where and from whom it is bought,” another employee explained.
“Mr. Phoenix is only PPO by name, but the show is controlled by PS Watkins, and like he told
some employees the other day, no minister can save them as he takes his orders from former
Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy (now one of two advisors to Health Minister, Dr Frank
Anthony) who many have noticed is exceptionally close to the PS,” the MoH staffer said.
Multiple sources disclosed that the PS wrote the Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking the
dismissal of the DPS (Administration), Ms. Shellon Bess-Percival. This media house was
reliably informed that Bess-Percival responded to Watkins’ missive detailing damning
information of the PS’ lack of social refinement and his open threats to other MoH employees
Bess-Percival, this media house has been reliably informed by sources familiar with the daily
Watkins-inspired ruckus Watkins, wants a transfer out of the PS’ self-made fiendish serfdom.
Meanwhile, Watkins continues to trample with impunity, the rights of staff. Experienced
engineer, Mr. Rudolph Calendar, is his latest victim, a source recalled.
Watkins barked at Calendar who objected to his characteristic impolite tone.

“All the Engineer told him was that he can’t speak to him like that as he isn’t a politician and
executes his duties professionally. He shouted on Calendar and chased him. He instructed
Personnel to send the Engineer on all his outstanding leave.”
“Is this the way a senior Public Servant will manage this ministry?” a bewildered MoH
employee queried.