The new administration has decided that the head of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Coralie Adderley, will be fired from her post. Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez told The Nassau Guardian that new leadership is required at the hospital. Leader of the Opposition Dr. Hubert Minnis said the Progressive Liberal (PLP) is victimizing Adderley.
Dr. Minnis went further, claiming Adderley is being fired because Dr. Gomez has something personal against her.
"That's, I guess, rhetoric," Dr. Gomez said of the victimization claim in response to The Nassau Guardian. "There's nothing personal, it's all about leadership of the institution."
The minister argued PMH needs to move in a new direction.
"I think that the institution needs, if you ask me seriously, new leadership, not only in administration, but in physician management," Dr. Gomez said.
"The place is crying for new leadership and if we are going to make PMH what it ought to be, we have to try to get leadership of the institution straight in all aspects. There's nothing more, nothing less."
New political regimes and new leadership in business have the right to change leaders in their organizations. The new people in charge have to feel their executives will most effectively execute their policies and their will. However, it must also be remembered that when professionals are dismissed, the organization should grant the person what is legally due them via their contract or agreement.
While stressing that he did not wish to go into any specifics surrounding the decision to terminate the contract of Adderley, Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Herbert Brown has gone on record and said she will be compensated above what her contract calls for. If this occurs, the PHA would be more than fulfilling its obligation to Adderley.
There is a political side to this issue, though. The PLP had as its election theme that it believes in Bahamians and that it believes in The Bahamas. Adderley is a young Bahamian professional who has run the largest hospital in The Bahamas for several years. If the new government wants to change leadership at the hospital that is its right. But is it necessary to fire her? Could there not be another role in the overall hospital system for this young Bahamian?
Politically speaking, firing Adderley could seem harsh and cold to members of the electorate who do not know all the reasons behind the move by the new administration.
As the PLP reconfigures the various government agencies at the beginning of its term it must be careful that the perception does not set that it is a victimizing, uncaring party. This would go against the party's campaign theme in 2012.
Bahamians are not overwhelmingly in love with the governing or opposition party. Setting the wrong tone early in a mandate could set the party on a course to being our third consecutive one-term government.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian