MR. Clement Rohee, as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), has articulated a party position that Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton should be sacked for what he described as “mismanagement” of the health sector and poor handling of the storage bond fiasco.The Party’s position is that the Public Health Minister’s utterances in the National Assembly warrant his dismissal from office; and at the PPP/C’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House on Robb Street, Rohee argued that the issuance of an apology by Dr. Norton, review of the three-year contract for the lease of the Sussex Street bond, and re-examination of the monthly charge of $12.5M are not enough to amend for Norton’s utterances.

PPP General-Secretary, Clement Rohee

Rohee stressed that Norton should be “sent packing”, because, had the tables been turned, there would have been a public outcry. He said Dr. Norton made a mockery of the Opposition when he was questioned about the bond, its location, rental and certification, and the parliamentary opposition is demanding that the Health Minister be placed before the Privileges Committee.

However, through Minister Raphael Trotman, chairman of the sub-committee established to investigate the matter, Government has said it is satisfied with the explanations provided by Minister Norton.

Rohee has also declared his position that Dr. Norton has no authority to dismiss Mr. Michael Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He thinks Dr. Norton has overstepped his boundaries in this regard.

“Norton is in no position to dismiss the CEO of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. That is the responsibility of the Board…. But this is where we keep saying the political interference keeps taking place. Mr. Norton has absolutely no role in determining what decisions should be taken by the Board,” the PPP General Secretary stressed.

Mr. Basil Williams, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, has been appointed mediator in this matter. He is required to submit recommendations to Cabinet on the way forward.