Minister Omar Ottley (fourth from left) sat with the supervisory board of SMMC.
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) supervisory board informed Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley that “the Australian doctor,” is just a candidate for the chief executive officer (CEO) position.
Ottley met with supervisory board representatives Robert-Jan James and Jim Rosen of SMMC for an urgent meeting to gather information on some pressing matters.
The minister inquired about the ongoing frictions with the Windward Islands Health Care Union and Associates (WIHCUA) and the tension amongst the workers. This was announced in a press release by the ministry on Tuesday.
According to the release, the supervisory board revealed that the responsibility of the negotiations between the union and management lies with the hospital’s management board. Upon learning this, the minister requested an urgent meeting with the management board, in which he was informed that the union and management board already had their first meeting on December 20 to establish an agreement and the process is still ongoing.
The minister requested the supervisory board to provide him with the selection criteria and vetting policies of key positions. Ottley also enquired if Dr. Holiday was considered for the position, considering the length of time he has been functioning as interim CEO.
The supervisory board made it clear that the selection process for a new CEO is not complete and “the Australian doctor,” Muddle, is just a candidate for the position. The purpose of his visit to the island was solely an evaluation visit and nothing more. The supervisory board also informed the minister that another candidate is being evaluated.
Following his meeting with the supervisory board, the minister held a meeting with Dr. Holiday and the legal counsel of SMMC, Janneke Lok to establish certain details forth coming from his meeting with the supervisory board.
According to the release, both meetings were very fruitful and provided clarity on the very pressing matters that have been affecting the hospital and the staff.
