A large group of angry nurses, other workers and even some residents was standing inside the Palms’ compound holding placards when Director of Social Services, Dr. Shyam Doodnauth and new Permanent Secretary, Phulander Kandhi arrived at the home for the elderly at around 2:30 pm for the meeting. Doodnauth and Kandhi left almost immediately.

A Government Information Agency (GINA) release said a group of “agitated staff including nurses, maids and seamstresses with placards were loud, rude and disrespectful to Labour Minister (Dale Bisnauth) and other members of his team. The situation prevented the minister and his team from entering the building (despite pleas by the Permanent Secretary) and after unsuccessful attempts the Minister was forced to leave the compound.”

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Industrial Relations Officer, Dennis English told Stabroek News, “I was made to understand that a meeting would be held to introduce the new Permanent Secretary.” Comments from some of the nurses revealed they were under the same impression.

But a press release sent to the media said, “Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Bibi Shadick will be installing an Internal Management Committee at The Palms.” The release was dated July 4, 2003 and listed the venue as The Palms.

English said the workers were protesting because most of the conditions, which recently attracted media attention at the government-owned home for elderly Guyanese, still existed. These included unsanitary surroundings, one nurse assigned to many patients and improper security. According to English, a thief entered one of the wards and long boots which were promised to the staff for use during the rainy season were yet to be provided.

“The union will not allow management to trample on the workers’ rights. All the workers are in support of this action,” English declared.

At a press conference two weeks ago, after the nurses and other staff members staged a sit-out, Shadick had told the media $6M of her ministry’s $8M budget for this year would be expended for massive rehabilitation of the institution. In response to reports carried in the media about unsanitary conditions and inadequate food, Shadick had indicated that the ministry had spent some $3.5M on janitorial and cleaning items for the first five months of the year and $8M for food.

This included 4,000 lbs of fish, beef and chicken per month for the 282 residents. (Edlyn Benfield)