Nursing Council holds luncheon for retired CNO

AFTER 36 YEARS IN THE NURSING PROFESSION, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Ms.
Linda Johnson-McIntyre proceeded on pre-retirement leave Tuesday with a fete in here honour
by the Nursing Council at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.
In attendance were members of the Council, the President of the Guyana Nurses and Midwives
Association, Ms. Cleopatra Barkoye, and other senior nursing personnel of the Guyanese nursing
sector.
Johnson gave 23 active years serving the people of Guyana at the community level from her 36
years in the profession. She was promoted to the CNO post and Chairperson of the Nursing
Council of Guyana in 2018.
For her stellar contributions to healthcare in Guyana her colleagues lavished her at the luncheon
with gifts and tokens recalling her “yeoman service to the country’s health sector” as many
fought back tears.
In brief remarks, Johnson said she is leaving the field conscious that while she gave her best, she
is concerned as there are some outstanding issues that she shares for nurses generally in Guyana.
One of those issues in the ongoing tiff between Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) nurses and its
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Rudy Small. They are outraged that Small accused them of
sexual indiscretions and when his allegations were made public, he denied making the
controversial statements.
The Guyanese government was forced to move Small from the Lenora Hospital and the Diamond
Diagnostic Centre for launching similar verbal bombs which exploded hurting the nurses and
their relations with their spouses.
The Permanent Secretary (PS) Mr. Malcolm Watkins, of the Health Ministry originally moved
Small from the raging controversy, but Minister, Dr Frank Anthony reversed his decision.

Since then, there have been no positive movements in the industrial dispute backed by the
nurses’ labour body, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU). LHC nurses and the GPSU are
demanding the CEO’s removal from the health institution.
Vice Chair of the Nursing Council, Dr. Many La Fleur, lauded Johnson’s enormous and
significant contributions to the sector which were “critically pivotal to the development and
growth of the profession.”
Others reminisced on the many benefits they accrued from her advice, support and knowledge
over her close to four-decade employment.
They also credited their departing colleague with ensuring that Nursing Education and Practice
in Guyana is on par with international standards. The CNO was further applauded and
congratulated for the sterling role she played in ensuring that the Nurses and Midwives Act 2019
was reviewed.
In addition, Johnson efforts in enhancing the development of the ‘Scope of Practice’ and ‘Code
of Ethics’ of Nurses and Midwives of Guyana was celebrated during the luncheon in her honour.
In her response the outgoing CNO said she felt privileged to serve and intends to cherish the
many memories racked up over her long years in the profession. The usually outspoken nurse
recalled occasions when she was forced to “put on a back burner” opportunities for self-
development as she wrestled to ensure that her family life and unwavering service to the
profession were in always in balance.
The General Nursing Council asked Johnson to continue as Chair until the next election of
office bearers.