BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER Dr. Patrick Martin has confirmed to SKNVibes that he was sent on more than a year pre-retirement leave, but the reason for the move is yet unconfirmed.
Dr. Martin spoke with this media house yesterday morning (Jun. 17) and explained that sometime after 3:00 p.m. on the previous day he was handed a letter by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, which indicated that he was to proceed on leave beginning June 17. He said it also stated that at the end of the leave period – Nov 17, 2017 – he would be retired from the public service.
He said he had quite a bit of leave, hence the near one and a half years on which he was sent.
Martin said he has already passed the mandatory age of retirement of 55 and that he had written to the government, past and present, on four occasions to have his stint extended, but he never got a response from any.
He however told this publication that he was expecting to be sent on leave “because of certain incidents which have been happening in the Ministry of Health”.
This publication understands that an incident occurred where a project involving stem cells was being undertaken at the Joseph N. France General Hospital and, according to Martin, he had to intervene because the proper medical clearance had not been given.
“This treatment did not receive the requisite medical clearance. I intervened according to the provisions of the Medical Act and the Public Health Act. There was a foreign doctor at JNF practicing without a license and so the Medical Act was invoked. The Medical Act said you have to be registered and licensed to practice in the Federation.”
The CMO said he is not the only person from the Ministry of Health who was sent on leave.
SKNVibes made contact with Minister of Health the Hon. Eugene Hamilton and posed several questions to him concerning Dr. Martin’s leave and the stem cell treatment.
He confirmed that Dr. Martin was sent on leave and that he is past the retirement age.
Minister Hamilton further explained that the fact that Dr. Martin had accumulated so many days of vacation leave is testament to his commitment to the duties and to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Minister expressed his thanks to Martin for his dedication to his duty.
Informed sources told SKNVibes that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Andrew Skerritt was also sent on leave.
