DISCRIMINATION and favouritism seem to be the order of the day at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) and sources say those issues are definitely affecting management’s capability.

Employees are also said to be running scared of a senior official who is reportedly sending them on their vacation leave, which have been accumulated over a number of years.

JOHN RAHAEL

However, some employees admitted to TnT Mirror that the Board of Directors of NCRHA has done “the right thing” by sending them off on their holidays, since in the Public Service, workers have also been prevented from accumulating so much leave.

But the workers said they are against being forced to take their leave without prior notice.

Information reaching Mirror is that the Manager of Materials Management, David Seejagat, had accumulated 228.5 days vacation leave.

He was called in by top NCRHA officials on March 20 and sent on leave “with immediate effect”.

He must bring down his accumulated leave to a manageable 60 days.

Seejagat was said to be shocked by the move and reportedly tried to negotiate the demand that he go on immediate leave.

However, he was informed it was non-negotiable.

A letter written by Seejagat said: “I informed you that this forced vacation is very unfair and I needed to consult my trade union before I responded.”

However, on March 23, Seejagat received a response indicating that he had to take 138.5 days leave immediately to bring his accumulated days down to 90.

Other employees reportedly being ordered to bring down their accumulated vacation days are Camille Ramlogan and Coreen Isaac.

Sources alleged it was only a certain type of people who were being sent on leave.

After word started circulating among staff that there was a different set of rules for some, a senior manager wrote, noting the recommendation of the Complex Administrator but never implemented it.

It said: “I have noted your recommendation that the following persons in order of preference should be considered as leave relief, Acting Manager of Engineering, Lutchman Bholasingh, Manager of Housekeeping, Roisin Ramdial and Business Manager of Surgery Services, Angela Maharaj.”

These people, sources said, were never sent on any kind of leave.

“Those who have been sent on leave are also complaining that a manager has been putting under-qualified personnel in their positions to hold on for them,” a source alleged.

Chief Executive Officer of NCRHA Charles Mitchell did not return calls made to his mobile phone.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health John Rahael is said to be aware of the situation at NCRHA.