Two senior executives quit NWRHA

Two senior executives have resigned from the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) with immediate effect. Sources told Newsday Carl Nurse, acting chief executive officer/senior vice-president finance and Keith Toby, senior vice-president corporate services, submitted their resignations after meeting yesterday with Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hugh Eastman. Sources said Eastman met first with Nurse at 1.30 pm and Toby not long afterwards. Newsday was told that Nurse went to his office, picked up his belongings and reportedly said, “This is not worth it.” He subsequently informed the payroll department that he had resigned. His contract as senior VP Finance was recently renewed. “Staff is not going to take that lightly. He left people crying. Mr Nurse was like the last hope, the glimmer in the dark tunnel called NWRHA,” said one worker.

Contacted for comment yesterday Toby confirmed his resignation and said it was his decision. He declined further comment saying he had to speak with the ministry. Health Minister John Rahael could not be reached for comment. The resignations have come as the Health Ministry is delving into the NWRHA’s hiring/promotion practices, award of contracts and failure to pay taxes deducted from workers’ salaries to the Board of Inland Revenue. Last Friday, Permanent Secretary Reynold Cooper wrote to Nurse advising him to submit evidence of monthly remittances of all statutory deductions such as PAYE, a list of all contracts of service in excess of $50,000 per annum awarded during the period starting January, and a list of all senior and middle management head office personnel employed or promoted since January.

The PS also sought information on overtime payments to administrative staff, travelling and communication allowances. The request by the PS coincides with financial and human resource audits taking place in the NWRHA. Two weeks ago the NWRHA requested additional financing from the Ministry to clear millions of dollars in outstanding taxes. It informed the Ministry additional staff had been hired resulting in an increase in its personnel emolument budget. The Ministry requested a report because money had been given to the NWRHA last year to clear its debts. At a media briefing on July 21 Rahael warned, “You cannot deduct from people’s salaries and not remit it to where it is supposed to go. That is something that is not done and the people who have done that will be held responsible.”