‘I didn’t jump from head nurse to director’

She wondered what could have prompted MPATT’s call on Friday for a public inquiry since she has been holding the post of director since December 2003.

Alleyne-Rawlins said she got the job after being interviewed by a panel which was headed by the late Dr Elizabeth Quamina and representatives from the University of the West Indies Institute of Business and Bureau of Standards.

Alleyne-Rawlins has been with the Public Service since 1968 and is a licensed nurse and midwife. She also has specialised skills in Intensive Unit care. She holds a certificate in Nursing Education and worked as a nursing instructor. She was the recipient of a Pan American Health Organisation fellowship to Georgia State University.

"I was one of the first Public Servants to participate in Quality Management programmes for executives at UWI’s IOB. I was self funded and obtained my certificate in Quality Management."

Alleyne-Rawlins said contrary to what MPATT reported she was working on contract since 1993 (to 1995) and not from 1995. She was selected from seven other persons for the position of senior nursing officer, Health Sector Reform Programme. (She was "released" from the public service to take up the post). She worked alongside the team of health professionals to work with the UK consultants in developing the National Health Services Plan.

"I did not jump from a head nurse to director," she said.

She said the post of director of Health Services Quality Management was advertised and when she was appointed she began work on developing a design a quality system since "no structure existed." Alleyne-Rawlins said the quality model she developed has been recognised by PAHO as a reference for use in other developing countries in the Americas.

MPATT has said the post at range 66 was created by Cabinet in March 1999 and it required the holder to have a degree in Health Administration and recognised certificate in quality management as well as more than eight years experience in quality management health care programmes and experience in health services/care in an administrative capacity.

Alleyne-Rawlins said her qualifications were audited by the office of the Chief Personnel Officer.

Sunday Newsday has learnt from another source that the position of director was created in 1995 as a contract post but Cabinet later gave approval for it to be an establishment (permanent) post.

The source said Alleyne-Rawlins was acting as director but was "confirmed" in the post last September.