The Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) has condemned what it described as ‘baseless attacks’ against its President, Dr. Merle Clarke.
Clarke recently wrote a strongly-worded letter to the board of the Owen King European Union Hospital (OKEUH) on behalf of the hospital’s physicians.
The letter, which found its way onto social media, complained about conditions at the medical institution
However, at a recent meeting of the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Castries Central MP Richard Frederick highlighted the Government’s efforts to address the OKEUH’s problems.
Frederick, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, also took the SLMDA President to task, suggesting Dr. Clarke was in cahoots with the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) to undermine the Government’s efforts.
While not mentioning the Minister, an SLMDA statement on Monday noted that the SLMDA President had been the target of personal attacks and character assassination for fulfilling the very responsibilities entrusted to her by association members.
“In her effort on our behalf to highlight and seek intervention for serious issues within our public health system, she has been wrongfully accused of political affiliations and misuse of her position,” the SLMDA statement said.
“The SLMDA unequivocally condemns these baseless accusations and public attacks on our President. We urge the public not to lose sight of the critical issues at hand by being distracted by attempts to misrepresent the situation,” the release declared.
In addition, it asserted that Dr. Clarke is simply the messenger, speaking on behalf of the collective physician body.
“Any attack on her is an attack on us all. We will not be silent when our call to service dictates otherwise,” the SLMDA stated.
The association said it remained steadfast in its commitment to addressing the pressing concerns in Saint Lucia’s healthcare system and will continue to advocate for the well-being and access to equitable, affordable healthcare for all Saint Lucians.
PHOTO: Dr. Merle Clarke
What the F… In wrong with the IDIOTS posing as Leaders & Politicians in the freaking place.
Well said! Raise our voices and let us not be silenced anymore!!! Your collaborative support is applauded!!
I believe strongly politicians should decease from government instructions affairs
To suggest that anyone in a high or low position be it in Government or private, is in cahoots with any other political Party shows signs of fear, and a drift toward dictatorship. The one who attacked this Medical Doctor has been known to be one who frequently makes verbal attacks on various members of the society. Known for his Bulldog tenacity, finances and threats, has managed to sneak into a Political Party and comfortably dominates that Party, while most members are too damn scared to shut him up, including the Bossman of that Party. I hope one day he will have to face a Judge.
Uh huh. I don’t hear Sealys raising her voice for this rabid attack on a hard working female professional. Her carnival pictures being used to attack her by the red hacks. Lisa, Catherine, Mary and the rest of the red cabal groupies must be sell-outs of decency.
All these problems that she mentioned existed when UWP was in power, but I suppose she was taking moo-moo tablets then
The medical personnel should go on strike until their work conditions are fixed and let the politicians act as doctors in the interim. Why exactly are we paying that additional 2.5% Health Levy tax?
I am disgusted by this article. It should never of come this far. How can a so called politician know the drastic situation the doctor’s and nurses are in here in St Lucia. They try and work so hard with not enough resources and not even a proper hospital in the south.
Shame on this government and the MP making these accusations. The whole country is behind our medical staff…………………..
One of my favorite books of all time is the 3 Musketeers. The moral of it all is “one for all, all for one”. We can move mountains when we come together as a people against any opposing negativity or challenge.
And the PM posture is, see no evil hear no evil. Smh
It has never been this bad under any administration. NEVER. Stop putting party before our fellow citizens. One of these days one of them will land in one of the hospitals and will be too critical to be transferred to anywhere. Then they will understand what takes place when the meds are not available to prevent them from meeting their demise. The loud loud one will get his Karma one day.
Louise Edwin are you for real. You sounding like that fool who chose to attach the messenger instead of dealing with the issue at hand. It has never been so bad at the hospital and i repeat NEVER. One hundred thousand dollars for the grand opening of okeu and it was still incomplete until the former government finished it and made it usable.
There is a dire need for universal healthcare in St. Lucia . And anyone who critiques the inadequacy of our healthcare system isn’t automatically an enemy of the state. However, this problem didn’t exist overnight. It’s a lingering issues no one wants to seriously address. It’s an albatross around the neck of every ruling party since independence and beyond. Every administration is kicking the proverbial can down the street and no leader has the political will to implement radical changes. “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” The PM should immediately repeal the moratorium on house tax, especially mac-mansions, and put the revenue into healthcare. Let us have progressive taxation on houses.
Now is the time to stand with Merle and the medical and dental association. It our life and our children. Most of these politicians don’t go to okeu when they fall sick the get up and go to the US and Canada and leave us to die in the shit hole. All the critics of the medical and dental association can you’ll afford to go to Tapion or take a trip to Martinique for medical attention. So stop being stupid by letting them politicians fool us.
Professional like Merl Clarke should not play politics with the health of the nation. Why did the letter leak through Manova ward? Is there a connection? Everyone knows Manova is a politician for Uwp. Whoever called her Zeleve is absolutely correct.
Except love ❤️ comes together,change our ways,help the pooar,say a word of encouragement,build together,we bring judgment on ourselves !
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong, which cannot tell their right from their left…
I left St. Lucia over 49 years ago and the health care system was jacked up then just as it is now. I have never seen anything like this – it is a crying shame. By the way I have never voted in St. Lucia – I am neither SLP or UWP – nickle and five cents.
These issues are for real. I faced it today having brought my grand daughter to a health centre in the west of the island and being told that there’s no DPT vaccines available in the district health centres! I actually went to three today. A wasted day. Was told that I should call perhaps by the 6th of next month. Smh. SLMDA; with you all the way!
Started by Can I help Me and endorsed by PJP and perpetuated by their vicious supporters. The doctor spoke out about something that affects us ALL and we choose to attack her just because her comments seemingly show up the deficiencies of our party.
Meanwhile, not one politician goes to the public hospitals when they are in distress. They go to Tapion and if not able to be treated they get flow overseas, not using their funds but taxpayers monies.
I stand with neither party. The fact of the matter is our health care system is in peril. People do not feel safe going to medical institutions; something ought to be done about this dire situation.
I stand with SLMDA
This is the story about gouverment, rulers, leaders,politicans and officiel+
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did..
Because it was Everybody’s job, Everybody thaught Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody would do it..
It ended up that Everybody blame Somebody when Nobody did what Nobody could have done..
A house of fire 🔥🔥
A house of flames 🔥🔥
@Anonymous, is the health care system better in the area where you are ? There is doctors shortages, you have to wait six months before you see a doctor,don’t ask if it is a black that call for emergency help..
Not too long ago an africaine woman of origin born in..when call for emergency help cause due to bellyache..strictly the respond was, you are going to die anyway,so said so done,all because of négligence…
@Morena Rithal – the health care system is much better where I currently reside and for that I am grateful to God. In addition, I am employed in the health care industry and I work with HIPPA and Policy and Procedure compliance…there is accountability and it is not who you know and all that nonsense. It is strictly business on every level.
@Morena Rithal – the health care system is much better where I currently reside and for that I am grateful to God. In addition, I am employed in the health care industry and I work with HIPPA and Policy and Procedure compliance…there is accountability and it is not who you know and all that nonsense. It is strictly business on every level. Also, the issue is the 3rd world mentality mindset (my girl, my boy) has got to go because it hinders progression.
The political parties aren’t standing, so I stand with the SLMDA…they’re the only ones standing and need support. You go girl (Dr. Merle Clarke)!
The worse thing about this attack in Dr Clarke is that in the offensive post on one of the SLP leaning Facebook blogs, a number of “friends” of Dr Clarke were tagged and not one offered up a defense of the Dr or requested that the “comrade” remove the offensive post. This speaks volumes about the caliber of these individuals and what they will do to “Protect the Victory”