JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson
Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has urged the parliamentary opposition to exercise caution in its calls for the resignations of civil servants that may, unintentionally, bring them into the political arena.
JFJ Executive Director Mickel Jackson says when such a call is made of civil servants, the action must not undermine parliamentary procedures.
She questioned whether the opposition had utilised the procedures available at parliamentary committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee, to "ask some probitive questions of the permanent secretary and the other technical leaders within the Ministry of Health".
"Have they enquired about the status of expenditures that would have spanned at least two administrations...and then the responses they found insufficient, for such a call to be made?" Ms. Jackson quarried.
'No one above questions'
But as the parliamentary opposition continues it call for accountability and oversight in the health sector, it has declared that no one is above questions when Jamaican lives are on the line.
Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton on Wednesday condemned what he described as a targeted public attack on civil servants in his Ministry by the opposition.
He urged the opposition to refrain from discrediting the very system it seeks to manage as the government in waiting.
However, in a statement, General Secretary of the People's National Party Dr. Dayton Campbell sought to clarify that the call for resignations in the health sector amid claims of mismanagement were not directed at Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie.
The opposition said it lays the blame at the feet of Permanent Secretary Dunstan Bryan and Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton.
"Does this situation not demand accountability from the top echelons of the Ministry? We are not criticising civil servants broadly, our concern is with the minister and a particular civil servant who has overseen this significant mismanagement. Accountability is non-negotiable and someone must be held responsible. If not the permanent secretary and the minister, who then should Jamaicans hold to account for this gross negligence?" he asked.
Dr. Campbell also claimed that ongoing mal-administration within the Ministry of Health and Wellness, exacerbated by political appointments to boards, demands immediate attention and corrective action.
"Appointing individuals with limited knowledge of the areas they oversee contributes to the ongoing mismanagement. For example, Michael Belnavis, who resigned in disgrace as the Mayor of St. Ann's Bay due to misuse of resources, has been the chairman of the St. Ann's Bay Hospital board since 2016," he contended, adding that Genevor Bailey, Councillor for the Lime Hall division, and St. Ann North Western MP Krystal Lee are other examples of "politically motivated" appointments to boards.
CMO gets support
In the meantime, the country's Chief Medical Officer is receiving support from the Association of Government Medical Consultants (AGMC) following initial criticism of the management of her duties.
The AGMC said Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie is a dedicated public servant who has provided and continues to provide her services to Jamaica throughout very challenging times, in particular over the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
The association said, during her tenure as CMO, Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie has effectively led the medical services while functioning as the chief medical advisor to the Ministry of Health and Wellness as well as to the government and people of Jamaica.
It said up to the present time, her leadership has not been questioned.
The association said despite many obstacles and limitations of resources, all levels of medical doctors continue to offer the highest level of expertise under the direction of the CMO.
The AGMC added that it is mandatory that the relevant government agencies provide clear pathways to access fulsome and accurate information, that would help to ensure that public servants, up to the level of the CMO, are protected from undue political criticism.
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