As mentioned at the top, this evening the standoff between the KHMH Board and its doctors is over. After an all day meeting, just minutes ago at 6:30 both sides signed on to a 13 point memorandum of understanding. The big news is the decision of KHMH Board Chairman Ricardo Fabro to step down. Labour Commissioner Ivan Williams announced it.
Ivan Williams, Labour Commissioner
“I am pleased to say that we have signed a joint memorandum of understanding between the BMDU and the KHMH and so the long standoff between the parties culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
With respect to Dr. Fabro, which is point four I believe on the MOU, Dr. Fabro has voluntarily of his own free choice removed himself, recused himself from his duties as Chairman of the Board and he has done so in the interest of the Belizean public in reference to the institution and in terms of the services
that needs to be carried on at the institution.”
Jose Sanchez, News 5
“Is it temporary?”
Ivan Williams,
“Precisely it is temporary in relation to the investigations that will be going on and in particular as one of the points in the agreement mentioned, both the parties, the BMDU and the KHMH have agreed to fully cooperate with a Commission of Inquiry and have agreed to a full scope audit with respect to the institution and so in line with the investigations and so on, he has removed himself. So he is temporarily with respect to the investigations.
In the agreement it calls for the parties to continue to maintain a very good harmonious working relationship. As a matter of fact that is one of the very important points in respect to the Chairman removing himself. But the parties will also refrain from making aspersions and statements that clearly attacking a person’s integrity, in particular and so on and pointing to allegations and so on.”
The truce was brokered with the help of Senator Godwin Hulse. He told us how they got both sides to agree.
Senator Godwin Hulse,
“On their behalf met with the board under the mediation of Williams to try to work out the points with a positive view to bringing a positive conclusion to this. I think the union and the board, both have engendered this positive attitude to resolve this issue and to ensure that the institution is returned to a high level of efficiency and I basically helped to facilitate that process.
When there is a burning issue, sensitive and delicate as this, when allegations are being slung back and forth, as human beings peoples emotions get involved and it becomes difficult. You need to have a situation where people sit down with parties who are neutral to help to come to resolution and a conclusion and that is what we did.”
Both Dr. Sosa from the union and Dr. Fabro declined comment.
