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Posted: Tuesday 25 July, 2017 at 5:31 PM

Former CMO’s retirement date advanced by four months

Dr. Patrick Martin
By: Stanford Conway, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DR. PATRICK MARTIN, the Federation’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) who was sent on 17 months pre-retirement leave last year, is claiming that the date has been brought forward by some four months.

     

    In a correspondence sent this morning (Jul. 25) to 11 local mainstream media houses, Dr. Martin stated that he wished to inform the general public that his retirement from the Public Service, originally scheduled for November 2017, has been brought forward to Friday, July 14, 2017.

    The practicing Paediatrician claimed that two Police Officers had delivered a letter to him at his private residence around 3:30 p.m. on Friday (Jul. 2017) with the instruction to retire “with immediate effect”.

    “The letter was signed by Mrs. Torfrida Rochester, Chief Personnel Officer, Human Resource Management Department, Office of the Prime Minister,” Dr. Martin said.

    When contacted by SKNVibes this afternoon to ascertain the contents of the letter and a statement on the issue, the Chief Personnel Officer said: “I have no comment to make at this time.”

    With regards to the alleged change in date of his retirement, Dr. Martin said that matters arising from the issue are being addressed by his attorneys.

    He affirmed that the CMO is a very senior post in the Public Service and any significant personnel changes warrant timely public disclosure.

    “Therefore,” he emphasised, “, noting the absence to date of an official statement, I reiterate that I am no longer the substantive holder of the post of Chief Medical Officer of the Federation effective Friday 14 July 2017.”

    He however declared that it was a honour to take up the mantle of CMO in October 2004, adding that “this health leadership post is demanding especially in a country with very limited resources. All that was achieved was due entirely to the guidance of and the collaboration with colleagues in population health and clinical medicine, at home and the region”.

    The former CMO said it had been a pleasure and privilege to work within and across departments, sectors and borders to advance health policies, programmes and services.  

    “The intellectual battles, successes and friendships are treasured memories,” he added.

    He also extended appreciation to the successive Governments, Ministers of Health and officials in national and regional health entities for the opportunities he was provided to serve the Federation and other countries in the region.

    Dr. Martin ended his correspondence by saying: “I will continue to be available to media and others on matters of health and development, and related subjects. Best wishes to all.” 

    In mid-June last year, SKNVibes had learnt that Dr. Martin was officially sent on 17 months accumulated pre-retirement leave with effect from Thursday (Jun. 16) and his services would have been terminated on November 17, 2017.

    When contacted by for verification, Dr. Martin stated that he had received a letter on the day in question indicating that he should proceed on pre-retirement leave the very next day.

    “I have reached the mandatory age of retirement, which is 55. I am now 58 and yesterday at three o’clock in the afternoon I received a letter from the Chief Personnel Officer in the Human Resource Management Department of the Government stating that I should take vacation leave with immediate effect, to wit today [Jun. 17]. And at the end of the vacation leave arrangements will be made for my retirement from the Public Service.”

    In a statement on Thursday, June 23, 2016, Junior Minister of Health, Senator Wendy Phipps had stated that Dr. Martin was well aware since October 2015 that he was expected to demit office by the end of May 2016. 

    “In addition,” the Minister said, “Dr. Martin had accumulated 356 vacation days as at the end of May 2016. His leave would therefore end on or about November 2017. He has therefore benefitted from extensions well beyond the retirement age of 55 and will be nearly 60 years of age when he officially demits office...”

    Shortly after proceeding on his pre-retirement leave, Medical Chief-of-Staff Dr. Cameron Wilkinson was appointed Acting CMO.

    However, after a few months in that health leadership post, the Government, on Thursday, September 2016, had appointed Dr. Hazel Laws the Federation’s Acting Chief Medical Officer.
     
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