GPSU demands Ali withdraw ‘fat nurses’ remark
Stabroek News
June 7, 2003
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has called for a public withdrawal of what it deems “the derogatory remarks” made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Mitra Devi Ali.
Ali had accused protesting nurses at the Palms of stealing food and that was why they were so fat. Nurses say the food is not worth stealing.
A GPSU press release said that in a meeting with the Ministry of Labour yesterday intended to address terms of resumption “a demand (was made) by the Union on behalf of the workers for the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Services to make a public withdrawal of the derogatory remarks carried in Stabroek News of the 5th June 2003, page 13, about `Nurses stealing the food causing them to get fat’.”
The employees of the Palms institution commenced industrial action on Wednesday to protest the non-payment of uniform allowances and the deplorable conditions under which they worked, the release stated. It added that the strike action would continue as the meeting was postponed yesterday due to Ali’s absence and the inability of officials from her ministry to provide a commitment on her behalf.
The release stated, “the Union on the other hand, considered her withdrawal the deciding factor to bring about terms of resumption as mandated by the workers.”
It added that the Union has assured the Conciliator that once a withdrawal of Ali’s statement is printed in Stabroek News, then the GPSU would be available for signing the Terms of Resumption.
