Will Chebat Repeat His Health Ministry Troubles?

Michel Chebat is taking charge of one of government’s most powerful ministries, but his record at the Ministry of Health is following him into the new role. Public Service Union President Dean Flowers says public officers will closely watch how Chebat manages the Ministry of National Security, particularly his treatment of senior personnel. Flowers pointed to the public disputes, transfers and reassignment of then Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero that unfolded under Chebat’s leadership. While he hopes the minister succeeds, Flowers says that history offers public officers some indication of what they may expect.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“ I am not one that want to necessarily prejudge, but I am always guided by history. And so in terms of Minister Chebat’s performance as a minister, since he got into government, I have to go back to his performance and his behavior first and foremost as Minister of Health. And I think that you have the records that would demonstrate how that went. You have the records that would demonstrate the chaos that was created in the Ministry of Health. These are the signs that we have to look out for, and these are the historical acts and behavior that we have to be aware of as he take over the Ministry of National Security and, and National Defense, from what you also were saying to me. So do we want him to succeed? Yes, because he ultimately is responsible for public sector workers. Will he succeed? Will some of the traits that we’ve seen in him and guided by his management, will we see those showing up within these different ministries and departments? We’ll have to wait and see. But guided by history, that’s the only guide that I have.”

 

Flowers also praised Julius Espat’s time overseeing security, saying he made a genuine effort to address the concerns of police officers and other personnel.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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