Doctors confident despite bomb scare

DESPITE having their April 5 negotiations at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) aborted by a “bomb scare,” both the Joint Negotiating Team (JNT) for the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) and the doctors remain confident that their negotiations will be successfully concluded. The JNT first held discussions with consultants and registrars about the new contracts being offered on March 22 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mount Hope. A follow-up meeting was due to be held at the EWMSC at the same venue. Medical Professionals Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT) acting president, Dr Lakhan Roop, told Newsday that Monday’s meeting never came off because of an alleged bomb scare at the EWMSC and the doctors have not been informed as yet when the meeting has been rescheduled to.

However Roop said the doctors are not unduly concerned and remain optimistic that the negotiations for new contracts will be successfully concluded. He described the doctors’ first meeting with the JNT as “cordial,” saying that the JNT advanced their proposal and the doctors made a counter proposal. Roop said while it is “too early to tell” what the outcome of the negotiations will be, the doctors remained optimistic that the outcome will be positive.

Chairman of the JNT, Imitiaz Ahamad, shared Roop’s sentiments. “We don’t expect there to be any complications as there were with the juniors,” Ahamad said. Health Minister John Rahael said the new contracts being offered to the doctors are the best packages ever offered to them. Ahamad, who is also chairman of the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), has been reappointed to his post by the Cabinet along with six other persons who served on the last SWRHA Board of Directors. Two new persons have also been appointed to the SWRHA Board.