PM stands with nurses, Edghill sides With embattled CEO

PRIME MINISTER MARK PHILLIPS IS SIDING WITH NURSES in the weeks-long
standoff with embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rudy Small caught in a taped interview,
vilifying Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) healthcare workers.
PM Phillips, a retired Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), is the first government
official publicly taking a position in the ongoing controversy which forced LHC nurses to take
industrial action to force Small from his CEO post.
“Mr. Rudy Small’s statements are irresponsible and insensitive and as a man I would not agree
with anything that he says,” PM Phillips said bluntly to loud applause from nurses at the
Watooka Guest House recently.
Phillips headed a two-member ministerial delegation to the bauxite-mining town, Linden, which
included Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Anthony Edghill.
The Irfaan Ali government remained mum on the dispute precipitated by another characteristic
verbal bomb from CEO Small’s loose tongue which exploded, first in the mining town, then
across the country with nurses from several other Regions joining their colleagues last week
picketing Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony’s Lot 1, Brickdam, office in Georgetown, the
country’s capital city.
Small accused night-duty nurses of abandoning their posts to meet their ‘Sweetman’ in trysts
away from LHC campus when he spoke with www.aroundtheregions.com. Outraged nurses
waved placards and chanted slogans demanding Small’s immediate removal.
Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS) Malcolm Watkins removed Small via an official
letter, but his Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, reversed the decision less than 24-hours after.
When www.aroundtheregions.com broke the story, the CEO originally claimed the media house
manufactured the statements attributed to him. He then posted a denial on the government’s
website. The reporter didn’t relent forcing Small to change his narrative.

The media house released part of the interview with Small justifying its stories on the
controversy. Small gagged himself.
He later apologised. However, LHC nurses still bristling from Small’s crushing remarks, rejected
the apology calling it insincere and branded the CEO a liar.
APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Devine Sears who attended the meeting with Phillips
and Edghill cast doubts on the CEO’s expression of regret at causing trouble for the LHC nurses.
“Mr. Small holds a position of authority and also of influence, while an apology has been given
it cannot be accepted as in this day and age you have women fighting…,” Sears said.
Edghill interrupted Devine’s train of thought asking “…who determines by who it is accepted
Mr. Sears.” The nurses unanimously answered Edghill with a single word, “we”.
“In this day and age, you must be held accountable for what you say,” MP Sears continued.
Edghill must have surprised the meeting when he publicly sided with embattled Small in the
meeting, effectively trying to negate the public stance of his PM.
In addition, the Bishop abandoned issues of moral philosophy and principles involved in Small’s
derogatory in preference for his friendship with the controversial figure.
Minister Edghill reportedly described Small as a “close friend” in whom he reposes much faith
in his ability to continue heading the hospital.
The Public Works Minister challenged nurses to forget the controversy, end the dispute and
return to work. Edghill promise that the PPP/C Government will seek to address their concerns
without providing any details.
PM Phillips and Edghill promised to raise the industrial dispute at Cabinet with a hope of finding
a permanent solution.
Cabinet meets on Thursdays.