Philipsburg:--- The Medical Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center, Dr. George Scot and the newly appointed members of the Supervisory Council kept the Members of Parliament on Monday waiting as they did not show up for the scheduled meeting which was to be held between the SMMC and the Permanent Committee of Health on Monday afternoon. Dr. Scot dispatched a letter to the Parliament of St. Maarten where he informed them that the St. Maarten Medical Center is not fully aware as to whom they have invited to Parliament.
Dr. Scot in his letter dated August 31st, 2012 said that the Parliament of St. Maarten invited the Supervisory Board of Directors of SMMC and the medical practitioners and surgeons that were involved in the cases of negligence that were published in the local media. According to Dr. Scot's letter, the agenda for the meetings called by the Permanent Committee of Parliament is to discuss the expansion of SMMC, alleged cases of medical negligence at the SMMC and actions by the SMMC to address these matters, reporting of medical incidents and contagious diseases, and the compilation and legality of the SMMC board.
According to Dr. Scot it is unclear to the SMMC as to whom the Parliament of St. Maarten is addressing since SMMC does not have a Supervisory Board. He referred to the articles of association, where it states that the SMMC has two corporate bodies being the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Council. He said that they (SMMC) took it that the Permanent Committee of Health wants to see both the Supervisory Council and the Board of Directors.
The SMMC Medical Director further stated in his letter to Parliament that if the two bodies are to meet with Parliament in a Permanent Committee meeting then the Parliament of St. Maarten must send the SMMC the agenda points so that both parties can agree on what that they want to discuss. In addition, Parliament must stick to the agenda points and the Parliament of St. Maarten must also find an independent chairman or chairwoman who would chair the meeting if they decide to meet.
SMN News learnt that even though the Members of the Supervisory Board and Dr. George Scot did not respect the wishes of the Permanent Committee of Health, the Members of Parliament have decided that they will give the SMMC Supervisory Council and Medical Director one more chance. Sources within Parliament said that the Members of Parliament especially those on the Permanent Committee of Health will invite the Supervisory Council and its Medical Director to separate meetings. Should the Supervisory Council and the Medical Director not comply then the Parliament of St. Maarten will hold a public session of Central Committee where they will send a clear instruction the Minister of Health instructing him of the actions they want taken against the SMMC.
The SMMC Medical Director also asked Parliament to specify the exact purpose and objective per agenda point and the scope of the meeting. He also asked that the Parliament of St. Maarten provide SMMC with a more detailed agenda in respect to items 2, 3, and 4 of their suggested agenda and to specify why the committee wishes to discuss the points.
SMN News has been reliably informed that at least one of the Members of the Supervisory Council who was appointed last week resigned on Saturday shortly after he was presented with a letter by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Cornelius de Weever. The source said Ruben Essed who was appointed as the legal expertise and vice chairman of the Supervisory Council resigned since he is also an adviser to the Council of Ministers.
SMN News also learnt from reliable sources that the members of the current Supervisory Council met with Dr. George Scot on Saturday after meeting with the Minister of Health and they presented the SMMC Director with one of the poorest evaluations.
SMN News learnt that Dr. George Scot began using obscene language in the meeting when he was presented with the evaluation and he realized that the Supervisory Council rated him as being incompetent.
Efforts made to reach Dr. George Scot on Monday evening proved futile as he could not be reached by phone.
Click here to view letter sent by Dr. George Scot to the Parliament of St. Maarten.