During a debate by the House of Representatives, on July 17th, Caroni East MP Dr. Tim Gopeesingh raised the issue of discrimination against doctors at the Port of Spain General Hospital. Our Prime Minister dismissed the issue and in his usual ignorant and apathetic manner declared:
" I don't want you to bring it. I'm not interested in it. You see, Mr Speaker, it would have been enough if the member had come and said 'on the basis of this evidence I make this statement', I would have objected also, I would have objected also, Mr Speaker, because evidence or no evidence, that kind of talk in a Parliament like this does us no good," Manning said.In other words, even if there is evidence of discrimination, he does not care, and he does not want to be bothered with having to address this problem, instead of using this opportunity to establish clear procedures for dealing with cases of systematic discrimination. After the massive failure that was the Integrity Commission I'm not sure what method will be used to investigate these accusations, however this is an opportunity for change. MPs such as Leader of Government Business Colm Imbert should stop dishing out premature conclusions that the allegations are "wholly irrelevant, baseless, unfounded, frivolous and vexatious” until an investigation is completed. Why so quick to dismiss I wonder? Go ask any trini who was held a government job if they think there is systematic discrimination in the hiring and advancement policies of State enterprises, or if State offices are professional places to work where race and religion are not an issue in the workplace, and see what kind of response you get.
I was disappointed with the Prime Minister's response to this matter so I posted the comments of both parties here for you all to see, and to hear your thoughts as well. Does Dr. Gopeesingh's use of the term,"ethnic cleansing" accurately capture the situation at the hospital and possibly at other State enterprises, or would a term such as "institutionalized racism" been more appropriate? Either way, is the bigger issue the term being used or the practice taking place at the hospital? Furthermore shouldn't an investigation be set up to determine the statistics on hiring practices and career advancement of doctors at this hospital?
The Prime Minister then went on to conclude that "It is not the kind of talk that I would ascribe to a Member of Parliament. It sounded like the kind of talk that you will expect from a gutter snipe... that is how it sounded to me. Most inappropriate," Manning added.
An excerpt of Dr. Gopeesingh's response is below. The full response can be found here.
"I wish to respond concisely and comprehensively to the debate that my comments have spurred in the country over the issues of racial and political discrimination being practised by the Government of the day. Firstly, let me state once more that I categorically stand by my comments in Parliament and I continue to insist that my claims about the senior doctors being forced out of the system because of their perceived political bias are true and provable. I later gave the names of more than 20 senior doctors who have been forced or frustrated out of the system due to outright discrimination when called on to prove my claims. I also have in my possession copies of several letters written by the doctors to the Medical Chief of Staff and Administration with their grievances over a prolonged period of time. These doctors in the main have said publicly that they have no knowledge of “ethnic cleansing” but many have admitted that they were frustrated with the system. Some have said, though, that racial discrimination was indeed a factor that contributed to their early departure at the hospitals. They have their reasons for not saying publicly what they have told me privately, and to speak out publicly on a matter of such grave importance or to be silent about it is their prerogative. In the same vein, it is my prerogative and duty to speak out as an MP about valid claims in the country which threaten to jeopardise the legal framework of democracy that we depend on for just and equal treatment for all citizens.
It is my prerogative and duty to speak out as an MP about valid claims in the country which threaten to jeopardise the legal framework of democracy that we depend on for just and equal treatment for all citizens.
I also want to make it very clear that such discussions, contrary to what the Prime Minister said, have every right to be vented in Parliament, since that is the sacred hall where issues of national importance are debated.I have no regrets about talking about the issue in Parliament; in fact, I consider that I would be shirking my responsibility to the national community and my duty as an MP to not raise the issue in such a forum. I recognise, however, that there were major risks for me as a politician raising such a sensitive issue, chief among them being the perception, fuelled by the cheap politicking of the Patrick Manning regime, that I was deliberately making racially divisive statements for political purposes."My careers as a senior lecturer, UWI School of Medicine, a medical practitioner for 35 years and a politician have been based on improving the quality of life for all citizens of this country, and improving race relations, not exacerbating them.
therefore call on the country to join the UNC’s call for valid investigations by the Equal Opportunities Commission into all allegations of discrimination made, and after, to engage in proper debate on the race issues that confront us and threaten to stagnate us as a people. After all, to quote US President Barack Obama, from his book the Audacity of Hope:
“If we aren’t willing to pay a price for our values, if we aren’t willing to make some sacrifices in order to realise them, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.”
It is time for all of us to move on, and to assess what we can learn from this experience. We must recognise that by continued dialogue and interplay of ideas and analysis would we consensually arrive on social, political and cultural imperatives for the full development of our people and the Nation State.
Dr Tim GopeeSingh
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