EMS Workers’ Suspension Lifted

Details

Health News

Tuesday, 14 August 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St. John’s -- The two Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who have been on suspension since mid-June following allegations that they were late in responding to a 911 call, are to return to work on Tuesday.

Industrial Officer for the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU), Ralph Potter, said the officers have been advised by the Ministry of Health that the suspension, which started on June 15, has been lifted.

“I received a letter from the Ministry of Health dated July 30, but which was handed to me on Monday August 13, that the workers’ suspension has ended and that they should return to regular duties immediately,” Potter reported.

The suspension of the two officers has been a bone of contention between the Ministry and the AT&LU, with the union claiming that the suspension was unlawful. The AT&LU also took issue with the ministry for suspending only two officers, when the ambulance was manned by three people at the time of the incident.

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Potter said the AT&LU made a number of attempts to resolve the matter in a timely manner. However, he noted that ministry officials have been unco-operative. This, he said, has caused the matter to drag on unnecessarily for almost two months.

“I believe the matter was finally resolved when I called on the Solicitor General, Lebrecht Hesse, asking him to intervene in the matter and help find an amicable solution. I had previously advised the Permanent Secretary, Edson Joseph, to seek advice from the SG on this matter,” he stated.

Potter said it is shameful that many permanent secretaries and heads of department fail to make use of the legal expertise available to them in the government’s legal department.

Caribarena.com learns that Joseph has been away on vacation and is therefore unavailable for comment on this matter.

Labour Commissioner, Hesketh Williams, is also away on vacation.

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