WICSU/PSU wants clarity
on competence of lab head
CAY HILL--The position of head of the laboratory will be essential for country St. Maarten and in that regard Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) president William Reed says it’s imperative that, within a very short time, Analytic Diagnostic Centre (ADC) provide clarity about the competence of Etienne Jamanika as head of the laboratory.
“If the clarity is not provided, we as a union will demand to know what Jamanika’s credentials are, where he studied and what diplomas he has,” Reed told The Daily Herald.
The union leader was present at the lab when the workers walked out Monday, April 22, because Jamanika had returned to work. He had been suspended since March 2006, but the court ruled on Friday, April 20, that he should be allowed to return to work and he did so on Monday.
Reed said Jamanika had been brought to St. Maarten from the Netherlands and he doubted very much whether his capacity to manage an important entity such as the laboratory had been properly assessed.
“Jamanika came after the former head Nasser Ayubi went to study abroad. Normally a new employee of the laboratory would be sent first to Curaçao and put to work so he could be evaluated. However, in the case of Jamanika he was sent directly to St. Maarten.”
Based on reactions received from WICSU members at the laboratory, Reed concluded that Jamanika had no managing skills. “The workers tell me that whenever they approached Jamanika with a problem, he told them to come back later. This was contrary to the way Ayubi, who was a manager and colleague, helped the workers to solve any problems they encountered.”
According to Reed, Jamanika gave the other workers the impression that he did not have what it took to do the job and this created a sense of discomfort for a majority of the workers. Reed said he had told State Secretary of Health Rodolphe Samuel that he should go to Curaçao and find out about Jamanika’s qualifications.
ADC managing director Arif Potmis has arrived in St. Maarten meanwhile, to try to reach an agreement with Jamanika. Potmis said earlier this week that he respected the court ruling, but that an unworkable situation has been created at the laboratory and he had to take into consideration the interests of public health care.
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