If Dr Fenton Ferguson wants to be the best ever health minister...

Thursday, February 23, 2012

WE have no evidence that Dr Fenton Ferguson aspires to become the best ever health minister of Jamaica, but that is not likely to happen, given the unfortunate trajectory that his tenure has already taken.

Dr Ferguson, like many of his ilk, clearly does not believe in transparent government or that the business of his ministry is the business of the people, as demonstrated in the controversy surrounding the running of Patricia House, a facility for rehabilitating drug addicts.

A bunch of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is clamouring for the resignation of the board of directors of the state-funded treatment facility, over claims of poor oversight by the board and allegations of sexual harassment at Patricia House involving at least one member of staff, as well as funding concerns.

A report in yesterday’s edition of the Observer quoted Dr Charles Thesiger, the chairman of the Richmond Fellowship Jamaica (RFJ) — the charity organisation that operates the residential facility - as declining to comment on the issue, because he had assured the health minister that he would not speak to the media.

“I have already met with the minister and the ministry about the matter and I have, in fact, told the minister and the ministry that I would be giving no interviews to any media house on this matter,” Dr Thesiger says, with apparent pride.

Since Dr Thesiger is not an elected official, he might be forgiven for thinking that such information belongs to him, his board and the minister. But Dr Ferguson can’t make such a claim for himself.

Asked for his comment on the matter, the health minister expressed surprise that the issue had been made public since he had met with the parties and the agreement was for media silence.

In other words, the minister expected all the parties to remain faithful to the conspiracy of silence about happenings at a governmentfunded facility.

Dr Ferguson must be aware of the long struggle which culminated in the passing of the Access to Information Act (AIA), which was intended to beat back the culture of secrecy that left Jamaicans in the dark about matters concerning their welfare, under the outdated, if much-abused Official Secrets Act.

Even with the AIA, it is still much like pulling teeth to get information out of government. Not to mention the inordinately long time it takes to access even ordinary information through the Access to Information Act.

This newspaper never expects the media to have full and complete access to all government information. We’d be silly. There are certain types of information, such as those concerning our national security, for example, if made public out of time, which would not be in the national interest. Some delicate negotiations cannot be done in public. We know that.

But what is happening at Patricia House does not qualify for such a tight cloak of secrecy. And we can’t help wondering what possibly could have taken hold of Dr Ferguson.

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (4)

norris Richards
3/11/2012

The people loves the PNP anf their ministers, they done have to answer, because the people don't care.

Nejeeper KNG
2/23/2012

Editor…I believed that we have made some progress in transparency; however the current Admin refused to honor those progress for example…“The post-Cabinet press briefing (according to Ken Chaplin) has become bastardized” along with the radio talk show, 'Jamaica House Live', and the prime minister's Question Time in the House of Representatives. The direction of Jamaica’s Health Care System is purposely ambiguous. The next few years will be very interesting; especially for the young and elderly.

Jam girl
2/23/2012

the only Party hold for conspiracy is the JLP it is PNP country so they account to no one this is just the beginning, Lot more to come.

Adam Godson
2/23/2012

If Michael Manley can be considered a great Prime minister,even to be considered a candidate for national hero,then there is hope for Dr Fenton Ferguson to be considered Jamaica's best health minister.
omar davis was a world class finance minister,remember?

Do you feel buying into Facebook now is a good investment for the long-run?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

If Dr Fenton Ferguson wants to be the best ever health minister...