From late September when it was announced that Dr Fernando Cuellar would be on the new KHMH board of governors - everyone who knows his no nonsense attitude had to feel that it wouldn't last long.
And, it didn't, with Cuellar resigning in disgust last week Friday - two days after the Health Minister told the KHMH Board to step up and handle its business when dealing with shortages of critical medications.
This morning on KREM's Wake Up Belize he was candid about what - in his opinion - lies ahead for the public healthcare system - and he added that he thinks Health Minster Chebat should resign:
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Resigned, KHMH Board
"For them to say to stay on the board and fight, it will not happen, I will turn blue until I die."
Mose Hyde, Host
"So what will happen now then?"
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Resigned, KHMH Board
"Dog eat our supper more."
Mose Hyde, Host
"And do you wish for him to be moved, do you wish that the PM would move him?"
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Resigned, KHMH Board
"Yes."
Mose Hyde, Host
"You would want him to resign?"
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Resigned, KHMH Board
"I would want the PM, the people at the leadership to say listen, we need to give more attention. This whole year has been tumultuous for the ministry of health, okay and I would reach out, I will tell him publicly, to ask to get move, because you are taking licking for everybody."
Cuellar insists that a Doctor should hold the post of Minister of Health.
And, turning to a related subject, he said that part of the reason for the current tension between the board and the Minister is the fleeing that the Ministry is standing in the way of the hospital recovering 5 million dollars that the Government owes it:
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Resigned, KHMH Board
"But somehow it was paused by the ministry of health saying hold on, let me see if its indeed $5 million dollars is correct and justified and that is the rift you hear right now by the chairman of the board saying "run the money" which he refers to the $5 million that they should have gotten from government/ ministry of finance."
