A group of frustrated newly recruited nurses attached to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) are contending that they have not been remunerated after working for more than four months, even though they had made several attempts to get word on their status, and had attempted to ventilate their situation with the Permanent Secretary of the MoPH and other officials.
Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation
Guyana Times was on Monday informed that these nurses are often told, “You’re not the only one,” and, “Have patience.” Guyana Times also understands that the MoPH protocol stipulates that newly recruited nurses are to be paid only after completion of their three-month probationary period.
“Last month made three months,” one young woman related. “That was my probation period. I haven’t been paid yet. It’s approaching five months!”
This newspaper was further told that probes made by the nurses for an update on disbursement resulted in them being informed that their names had been submitted to the Public Service Commission (PSC), and a signature is being awaited.
“They said they have to wait on a signature to release our salaries. That’s all we hearing. How are we expected to report to work on a daily basis when we aren’t even being paid? And if yuh absent one day, they threatening to write yuh up,” a nurse explained.
Guyana Times sought to garner official word in regard to the situation of the nurses, but learnt that Permanent Secretary of the MoPH, Collette Adams, is overseas and cannot be reached for comment. However, MoPH
Personnel Officer Chetwin Phoenix, when contacted, neither confirmed nor denied the nurses’ contention of not being paid, but urged that the affected persons report the matter to him, so that it could be addressed. But probed further, he related that his superiors have more authority to relay official information to media operatives.
“I would love to request that the persons come to talk to me at the Ministry of Public Health, and let me see exactly where their matters are…I don’t want to come across as being reluctant to provide information…the framework that I work within, it is difficult for me to engage the media…,” he stressed.
Phoenix referred this publication to the attention of his superiors. However, the Deputy PS was, up to press time, unavailable to speak to this newspaper. Guyana Times understands that the Public Health Ministry received from the Public Service Commission correspondence in this regard as recent as Monday morning, but it remains unclear when the newly recruited nurses would receive their first salaries.
