A call by the Opposition for the resignation of Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson over the dead babies scandal dominated discussions among Jamaica Observer online readers yesterday. Here are some of their views:

PhilT McNasty

This man MUST be born twins. It is impossible for ONE man to cause so much embarrassment to a whole nation. Portia must be the other twin, because right now, she is the ONLY person who has his support, and that’s not saying much about her either! I say they are cut from the same stock!

Jamaican Thoughts

Nothing not going to happen. Portia nah fire a soul and nobody not resigning.

terobe Cyley

If he has any decency, integrity, honour about him he should do the right thing and resign. His tenure has been one of/if not the worst. Where is John Junor?

V Cynical

Why would the minister of health even try to stay on to wait for the public to call for his resignation? Are the souls of 18 innocent babies not enough? How can you be in charge, yet you are always the last to know what is happening in the health sector? Could someone in earshot of the minister please tell him what the words ‘incompetence’ and ‘negligence’ mean? Prime minister, are you going to perform your duty this time around, or will you give him another A+?

NoMore_MarioDean

See it deh! Plain and clear for all to see. Incompetence in governance from government politicians and even more incompetence from the so-called Opposition. One man is not responsible for the slackness that prevails in the hospitals so fyahing one man will not fix the problems. Comprehensive and complete investigations are needed to get to the bottom of this and that is what I am sure the articulate patriotic minority wants. The rest (the ignorant majority) will just line up behind their tribe (party) eagerly defending useless politicians. A whole heep ah people fi get fyah and not just fired, nuff a dem fi get lock up too. But, knowing how the Jamaican system messed up, not one smaddy ago ketch trouble. The Jamaican politicians are a mighty sad reflection of the Jamaican people. Incompetence, trickery, dunceness and such is endorced and celebrated, not condemned and punished.

treetop

Resign, Ferguson! You are a disaster to our country!

Jim Kelly

No word from the ever silent PM.

fieldgar

Resign? But… after a nuh him kill di baby dem!

XAMYCA

We might as well save our breaths. Not only will Ferguson not be “reshuffled”, but should the PNP form the next government he will STILL be the minister of health. This is typical of how this party operates: no accountability no matter how frequent the transgression, then a decade down the road we will be still picking up the pieces. Asking this government to “get serious” is like pulling teeth, hence Dr Ferguson shall remain. And in all fairness, he should not be the only one in the ministry who should be packing their bags. To quote the PM in another time: “this is a wicked and uncaring Government”.

JustandBalance

Most of our elected officials are just holders of job titles. No performance is required, simply collect a pay cheque. It’s inconceivable that Mr Ferguson is that clueless. Part of your job description is to know what’s happening in your environment. When you are good at what you do, you tend to become curious as in wanting to know, learn, and stay updated. This is not the job for Mr Ferguson.

Kboo

The death of these babies now turn political… Smh. Sad. Sad. Sad.

Pat Lui

@Kboo: That’s a given when we have politicians in roles they don’t belong into; here we have a dentist as minister of health, then we have an accountant as minister of security.

DT

@Kboo: No this is not political, this is a minister who has continued to perform poorly and his boss does nothing about it. Let’s stop for a moment and forget about any political affiliation. Let’s be honest and look at the performance of this minister. He and others should not be in their jobs. I would have more respect for the PM if she was williing to shuffle the Cabinet . Once again, it is the Jamaican people that lose.

TUN_IT_UP

@Kboo: What did you expect? The person chosen to prevent these tragedies was chosen via politics. On top of that there is an impending general election.

general69

Time for the prime minister to stop protecting non-performing ministers. Mr Furguson must go; he is a disaster, and don’t forget Peter Bunting…

Jamerican

This dude has outstayed his usefulness of such a critical position… from the Chick-V outbreak it was very clear. But he clings onto the position …and the leader doesn’t have the gall to do anything about ineffective stewards. So many more will have to die, don’t ask me why.

Tom Stroke

I agree 100 per cent with your argument, Mr Holness. I am baffled. What will it take to get rid of Fenton Ferguson? When are we going to be spared this level of incompetence from this man?

haggyp

Not to knock Dr Ferguson, but he’s always in the dark. Very good dentist but leadership counts! Leaders lead, they do not follow! “Good to Great”!

Donald G lawrence

While the unfortunate death of these babies occupy the news, and rightly so, shouldn’t we be taking a serious look at what is happening in the other medical facilities across the island? After all, one facility is in the eastern end of the island and the other is in the west. What is happening between?

horatiobarnes

He must go now. Shame on him! This is not the 1950s. Step down now!

Outside the box

How convenient that he wants the buck to stop at UHWI for not giving him the info on the outbreak when he is the one who should be putting policies and measures in place to make sure he is updated about the current status of the health care sector. What a thing if the world simply accepted the idea of firing the one who immediately failed to do something instead of the one in charge of making sure their people do what they should do?

Triple EX

Dr Fenton Ferguson, please do the honourable thing and resign. Do not wait for the prime minister to fire you.

Leroy Dunk

What stupidity! This is beyond politics and a national disaster to be having such an incompetent health minister! Firstly if a safe system was in place, proactive approach would be for the minister to be aware of such a situation.

…Only in Jamaica can this happen and continue.

barushka

This is the only country I know where non-performance is not an issue. Oh, don’t forget we taxpayers are the ones who pay them every month. This PM is not serious about accountability.

Really

…Way to go PNP; destroy the lives that Finsac could not touch.

gego

You would have more chances of seeing teeth grow in a John Crow’s mouth, than seeing this Government sack one of its own for his/her inefficiency. …We Need to have the courage to put a third party in office, otherwise we are doomed to a country which runs on inefficiency and maladministration.

Claude DePablo

Dr Ferguson, beware! The plot thickens. Look out for Ebola, cholera, tuberculosis etc. Tighten security at all hospitals. The campaign to smear Jamaica’s image is on in earnest!

Courtney Barrette

Portia will not fire the five-star failure on the basis of incompetence, because she would have to fire herself and 75 per cent of the Cabinet on that same basis.