JOEL JULIEN
Although she is yet to complete half the time on her three-year employment contract at the San Fernando General Hospital, Dr Malini Gosine, the daughter of the chief executive officer (CEO) of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) Anil Gosine, was granted a year off from work with full pay to pursue graduate studies in London.
The SWRHA “approved the grant of full-pay study leave for one year to Dr Malini Gosine in the amount of $217,440” on June 23 last year, months before the general election, according to documents obtained by the T&T Guardian. Gosine is currently studying at King’s College in London.
But the CEO has denied there was any preferential treatment shown towards his daughter.
Gosine, who has been the SWRHA’s CEO since 2011, said all the proper procedures were followed with respect to his daughter and an investigation by the Dr Alexander Sinanan-led SWRHA board did not find anything improper.
Sinanan was named the chairman of the SWRHA board last November, replacing Dr Lackram Bodoe.
Bodoe became the Member of Parliament for Fyzabad following the general election. He was the SWRHA’s chairman when Gosine’s request was approved. The SWRHA is responsible for the administration and management of the San Fernando General Hospital. Attempts to contact Bodoe on the situation with Gosine proved futile.
Dr Malini Gosine, 29, began working at the San Fernando General Hospital on February 24, 2014. She was hired as a house officer at the dermatology department at the hospital in 2014 for a period of three years.
On May 8 last year, Gosine informed the SWRHA that she was accepted to pursue a master of science in clinical dermatology at King’s College in London on a full-time basis for a period of one year, commencing in September 2015. She requested either a scholarship or full-pay leave to be able to pursue her studies on a full-time basis.
Gosine provided a request for $566,472, including tuition and housing funding for the year.
Approval process
According to the documents received by the T&T Guardian, Dr Anand Chattergoon, the medical director at the San Fernando General Hospital, “highly” recommended Gosine’s request for full-pay study leave. Dr Shevanand Gopeesingh, the Director of Health, approved Gosine’s request and noted that “there is a critical need for dermatologists.”
Dr Morgan Basanta, a consultant dermatologist, and Dr Kanterpersad Ramcharan, head of the Dermatology Department, both also “strongly” recommended Gosine’s application.
“According to our records there are no performance issues or disciplinary matters pending against Dr Malini Gosine, as this is her first contracted period of employment with the authority,” the note submitted to the SWRHA’s human resources committee stated.