Speed up negotiations

THE Medical Professionals’ Association of TT (MPATT) yesterday reminded Health Minister John Rahael of his promise to senior doctors that negotiations for their enhanced terms and conditions would be expedited. In a release, MPATT stated, “three weeks before Carnival 2005, the minister has failed to keep his promise.” The doctors said three weeks before Carnival last year, Rahael went to the doctors’ lounge at the San Fernando General Hospital and made the promise that negotiations for senior doctors would be completed by March of 2004.

Negotiations between the doctors’ representatives and the joint negotiating team of the Regional Health Authorities began on March 22 2004. “He did not make it so the senior doctors are now reconsidering the trust they placed in him,” the MPATT release added. Senior doctors will be meeting to discuss redress of the situation. MPATT reminded Rahael of a statement he made at the opening of the Urology Theatre last December:  “Those who make noise will get what they want.”