For the past two days we have been reporting on the plight of Dr Marvin Manzanero. The man nationally known as the Director of Health Services returned to the Ministry of Health and wellness from sick leave on Monday - only to find that he had no vehicle, no office, no desk, and no job as DHS.
He was reportedly given the options to work as a medical officer, or to return to the HIV program where he first started working in the Ministry some years ago. It's a demotion - and one the Association of Public Service Senior Managers says is completely without justification or due process.
But, speaking today via phone with CTV-3, the CEO in the Ministry of Health and wellness said that Dr Manzanero knew the plan and accepted to go back to work at the HIV program:
Reporter "Reports specifically says he has returned to no desk and his job title is now in limbo. Can you offer any clarification on that situation?"
Deysi Mendez - CEO, MOWH "Actually before Dr. Marvin went on to sick leave, he was informed of the ministry's vision of restructuring. Dr. Manzanero holds a post as established Director of Health Services. The thing is what we're going through now is that we need to place our staff member, key staff members in positions that would be very effective and efficient for the response of Ministry of Health. Dr. Manzanero upon his return had a meeting with myself, met with the minister and was explained on the way forward which he had agreed that the options that were laid out and where the need was is in the response to HIV and in our approach an our need for a medical internist. Dr. Manzanero agreed to taking either position, mainly taking the position of the coordinator of the HIV response. So, really it was fitting him into an area where he has the expertise, Dr. Manzanero once worked in the area of HIV and he had agreed and really what we had in conversation is he staying in Belmopan or going to Belize City where the need of coordination with the VCP clinic is also needed. This was an agreement that he made in the office and accepting the change. Really the only question really ended up in that meeting was, am I reporting to Belize City physically or Belmopan and he asked for it to be in Belmopan."
The APSSM says that even if Manzanero is getting the same pay, it is tantamount to a demotion without justification. Manzanero didn't respond to our request for comment.
Chairman of the PSC, Charles Gibson, who explained that a demotion process cannot legitimately happen if the PSC has not met.
