Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan has offered sacked minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh a consultancy job to assist him with the ministry’s prosthetic limb programme. Disclosing during yesterday’s 2015 budget debate that he had done so, Khan added: “He hasn’t given me an answer but he says he can help.” Khan made the offer to Ramadharsingh about a week ago. He said Ramadharsingh would not be “in charge” of anything.
But even as Khan made the announcement, police confirmed yesterday that a file on Ramadharsingh has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ramadharsingh was fired by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on March 25 after alleged disorderly behaviour on a March 16 Caribbean Airlines flight from Tobago.
Flight attendant Ronelle Laidlow had alleged he touched her breast while reaching for her name tag and spoke threateningly after refusing her request to move from a seat. Ramadharsingh later apologised, saying he was suffering from severe fatigue. That month also, Patricia Singh, of Central Trinidad, alleged to police that she performed “sex acts” on Ramadharsingh in 2011 to obtain a Housing Development Corporation house.
He categorically denied that, saying the allegation was misleading, without merit and was referred to his attorney. Police interviewed Ramadharsingh on May 12 and subsequently, police spokesman Wayne Mystar said Ramadharsingh’s file was in senior officers’ possession. Yesterday, Mystar confirmed the file had been sent to the DPP.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Khan said there had been a large demand for prosthetic legs, particularly as a result of diabetes-related foot issues. He said there were five suppliers, ranging from good to not-very-good, handling a range from titanium to cast-iron limbs. Khan said Government was working on a system of foot clinics, including preparing shoes to fit patients’ needs so their toes would not be squeezed, and thus avoiding amputation.
He then said he had asked Ramadharsingh, the Caroni Central MP, to come to his ministry to help him with the clinics, which would facilitate prosthetic limbs for the needy. He said Ramadharsingh had been handling that matter in the Social Development Ministry which he formerly headed, knew about it well and had also developed a foot clinic. Khan said Ramadharsingh had said he would consider the request.
An Opposition MP then quipped: “Titanium hoofs!,” alluding to Ramadharsingh’s background as a veterinarian.
Glenn mum on job offer
Asked to comment after the debate, Ramadharsingh, now a PP backbencher, declined to say if he would accept it then went across to talk to Khan. Khan subsequently told reporters: “I believe everyone is a citizen of T&T and should be utilised in the capacity they are good at. Before Mr Ramadharsingh left office, he and I were working on starting the foot clinics for T&T and it just stopped. He’s a doctor and I’m a doctor also, we understand the body.”
Of his offer to Ramadharsingh, Khan added: “I thought it would be a good idea. I don’t want to say hired but I understand what happened when I was in Opposition, when I was out, and was blocked from getting jobs. “I like to use the expertise available to me and if I have to do it fast, I have to look for someone who understands it the way I do and I asked him.”
Asked if he told the Prime Minister he had offered Ramadharsingh the position, Khan only said he had just asked Ramadharsingh if he would consider it. Asked about Ramadharsingh’s response, Khan said Ramadharsingh knew he could deliver well. On whether the investigations concerning Ramadharsingh were an obstacle, Khan said: “First he has to indicate if he will do it. Personally, I don’t think those (investigations) will be a problem.
“The investigation isn’t involved with the prosthetic. Until the outcome of that matter, I will try to make the best use of what is a valuable resource to serve the people. It’s either that or we knock around with inefficiency to some extent.” Khan said it was not a case of “jobs for the boys”, as PNMites might think.
He said for instance, PNM’s Dr Amery Browne was very good at HIV treatment and management and he would like someone like him to run that programme. Last year, Khan was eyeing Browne for a job in that field which Browne turned down. Khan said many would benefit from the clinics. He said $10 million was allocated in the last budget for them but not all was used. He was uncertain of the 2015 allocation.
