Colm delivers a ‘bombshell’ of his own

HEALTH Minister Colm Imbert dropped his own bombshell on the UNC’s “bombshell” candidate for Local Government elections, Dr Anirudh Mahabir, by refuting the Opposition candidate’s claim that he had not resigned from the Ministry of Health by producing the medico’s former letter of resignation.

The controversy arose after Minister Imbert stated on a PNM Local Government campaign platform in Cocoyea, South Trinidad last Sunday evening that Dr Mahabir had tendered his resignation to the Ministry of Health after his candidacy in the upcoming elections had been referred to the Public Service Commission (PSC). This was later refuted by Dr Mahabir, who insisted that he had not resigned from the Ministry, while acknowledging the receipt of the referral letter to the PSC from the Health Ministry. However, speaking to reporters after the commencement ceremony for the new wing at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday, Imbert said the Local Government candidate for Cocoyea/Tarouba had tendered his letter of resignation to the Ministry since last Friday July 4. The letter, dated July 3, 2003, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Reynold Cooper, and was effective June 23, 2003. “That is the level of dishonesty and deception that we at the Ministry of Health have to deal with,” Imbert said as he also read from the Ministry of Health’s acceptance letter to Dr Mahabir dated July 7, 2003.    
                                                       
Calls to Dr Mahabir’s mobile telephone went unanswered yesterday while officials at the UNC’s San Fernando offices were hesistant to give another contact number for the candidate. The Health Minister also revealed “Government has entered into individual contract arrangements with these doctors,” adding that the doctors would be earning “a little less” than local doctors, and that, contrary to reports, Government had not entered into any third party arrangement with the Cuban Government for payment of these doctors’ salaries.