UPDATE: Nurses protest

A nurse with a placard, protesting the treatment from their boss at the Acute Psychiatric Unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

About 20 nurses at the Princess Margaret Hospital today staged a peaceful protest in the vicinity of the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU).

According to the nurses, they are fed up with the treatment from their boss at the APU, Dr. Griffin Benjamin.

A brief statement handed to reporters from head of the Dominica Nurses Association Rosie Felix at the scene claimed that  nurses are  being “psychologically and emotionally abused”. They also claimed that they, along with other doctors and workers are being bullied

Meanwhile when questioned by reporters at the APU, head of the unit Dr. Benjamin told reporters that he was unaware of the nurses’ concerns since neither he nor his staff had any communication with them on the matter.

“To be honest I am not too sure. I arrived at work and I saw about five to eight nurses standing there with placards. I can’t say I read them well but there was nothing personal about me on any of the placards. I have not received any form of communication from anyone; nobody on my team have written or explained to me that there is a problem. I do not know what exactly the problem is,” he stressed.

Bullying

When reporters briefed him on what the nurses said were their concerns Benjamin said; “I looked through the demonstrators, I only saw one nurse from the unit and I can’t remember she ever accusing anybody on the unit of abusing her.”

Benjamin noted that he has a very good relationship with his staff and that they operate as a team. “The relationship with the nurses have been excellent.  Of course I have my concerns,” he added.

“I have no experience on this ward of ever attacking a nurse. The only thing I would do is I would write to the supervisors to explain. I believe if there is anything connected to this activity today it would have to be that in December in while reviewing the staff composition in the unit, I wrote three letters about staff members who I felt in 2010 did not perform adequately,” he pointed out.

He continued, “I am not their immediate supervisor, I am not the one who do their annual appraisal but when I admit a patient there constitutionally, the court and the government expect me to be responsible for their health. So I take on my own – maybe the other doctors do not do it – and I write to my administrative boss, to my permanent secretary, and I copy to all of the supervisors that ‘X’ nurse or ‘Y’ nurse is not performing adequately and is not helping the process to go forward.”

Benjamin further assured that he has not insulted, confronted or made any disparaging remarks about any staff member in the unit “so if that’s the evidence you have let the person tell you what I said”.

Work ethics

Benjamin said that he has seen a lack of work ethics within the unit as it relates to nurses.

“There are times when there are clashes in opinions and sometimes when I am very unhappy with the fact that their work ethics is unsatisfactory. This is probably the only section in the nursing area where staff believe that there is no work to be done-(like) all you have to do is lock the patient up and go home. And they would give medications to the patient but then at times when you look for staff members they are out of the ward, gone,” he said.

“So the work ethics sometimes I challenge them on because that it is not acceptable and Dominicans are accustomed to quality health care. So I do write to the matron, I do write to the principal nursing officer and I write to my permanent secretary to explain to her when I’m unhappy. If that is bullying well I am sorry. I’m trained to manage, I’ll manage in this way,” he stated.

Benjamin pinpointed a particular senior nurse, whom he said was the only nurse involved in the protest today, who started working at the unit three months ago. He claimed that that particular employee was not performing her duties adequately so he recommended her removal from the unit.

“I wrote to say that the nurse is not spending time with my patients. That nurse locks herself up in her office and leaves the patient locked up in the room, and I want them to interact with the patient, so I wrote and asked that the nurse’s three-month assignment with us be ended. I think that she was not prepared for the job,” he stated.

Benjamin said that the nurse in question, the permanent secretary in the ministry, other superiors and himself met last week  on the matter and she was given a three-month probation.

“The nurse is busy studying or the nurse is busy taking care of her family life with no training in mental health and she is supervising the rest of the staff. I am not the employer but I would write to my supervisors and say that she is not fit for the job,” Benjamin claims.

Lack of mental health training for nurses

Benjamin mentioned a problem which he said he has made consistent complaints about to his superiors – the lack of training for mental health nurses.

“My only and consistent concern and reports and complaints to the Ministry of Health about the nursing team is the absence of trained mental health nurses assigned to work on the psychiatric unit. The absence of any manager in the nursing field sent to work with us with any kind of training in mental health they are not adequately prepared,” he said.

“They have not done any of the formal training, and so sometimes they have difficulty understanding the process that is being followed at the psychiatric unit,” he added.

Amidst all this Benjamin assured the operations of the unit was not hindered by the protest today. He said that there is approximately 19 staff employed at the unit.

The nurses staged their silent protest on a portion of the lawn located at the side of the APU building, allowing the free flow of traffic in and out of the grounds. At least two police officers, regular security personnel and a photographer were also present on the scene.


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205 Comments

  1. Dominican to de bone
    February 11, 2011

    I had a keen interest in studying Psychiatric nursing after I was through with my Rn but after my rotations as a student on the unit that all changed. I firstly do not like the way that Dr. Benji treats and speaks to the patients, in no way that is helping, he determines if he is ready for you to leave the unit in the sense that he will provoke the patients in Dr. rounds and tell them they are not ready after they answer in a manner that he is not satisfied with. I think that he should try to rehabilitate these patients back to society and not in the manner he is attempting. If you look at the patients it’s the same young people that come back over and over, so it tells me that something is not working, and if something is not working a next approach should be used. He is not professional in his rounds and he do not act professional towards the nurses by disrespecting them. The nurses do have nursing supervisors and we work as a term, they are no more greater than us. In every workplace you will always find there are good and bad but not because there are a few bad apples that everyone should be blamed. This ridiculousness needs to stop and an end to it should commence immediately. I remember this same doctor said that he is the greatest man in Dominca since he is the only one that have the authority to let the prime minister or president or anyone who thinks they are high in society to jail. He thinks he is God and needs to get off the high he is on. If he can make such a statement then that alone should tell you something……

    • TeteMorne I from...
      March 12, 2011

      The only thing I got from you rants and raves,is that YOU need to go back to school. You must be one of the bad eggs: You can not spell, and you have a million and one run-on sentences. Go back to school and perharps he will tolerate you.

  2. Stella
    February 10, 2011

    Jesus!!! Dominicans ignorant!!!

    you really think the nurses would be making these accusations if they were untrue???

    I commend the nurses who supported the APU nurses!! I am really proud of Sr Felix and Mrs Edwards!!!

    To the Ward Sister of APU and the young man who studied psychology……….HOLD ON TIGHT!!!

    To all the ungrateful Dominicans with negative comments………………..GOD BLESS YOU!!!

    STAND IN SOLIDARITY NURSES!!!!!!!

  3. wow
    February 10, 2011

    never knew doctors were incharge of nurses. I always thought that they worked as a team. Dont nurses have their own nursing supervisors. Its time we Dominicans get that impression out of our mind that doctors are nurses’ boss. That is FAR FAR FAR from the truth. Nurses deserve as much respect as do doctors.
    On another note, don’t nurses just as general practioners, cover all aspects of nursing care during their training? I expect that they would also do some form in training in psychiatric care. And are any of the junior doctors at the A.P.U. specially trained in psychiatry? If no, maybe they too need to get off the team.
    Was just brainstorming.

  4. P.
    February 10, 2011

    If you check the history of workers in Dominica, nurses are one of the few professions who go on any form of strike. Working conditions are horrible, pay is low but protests are usually floored because they are firstly patients’ advocates. Now if the nurses are complaining about a doctor’s behaviour, i am not surprised. Some thing must have gone really wrong. In general nursing they do cover psychiatry, not as in depth as a specialty but they have some form of understanding for the conditions. Now if he is complaining about they not being adequately trained, then its a problem with the entire hospital because all areas are specialized areas. Most of them do not respect the profession on a whole. It does not matter who the nurse is whether she is the best or worst. They see them as subordinates. when i look at the complaints that are coming from that department i am not surprised either. when compared to the ideal working conditions for a psychiatric unit, what we have is a far cry from the ideal. All sorts of disorders a chucked up together. Its like a prison. A fairly unsafe place for nurses to work by interacting with certain cases. He makes rounds how often. The nurses are there 24hrs a day.

    Stop thinking that nurses just learn how to give injection and give medicine and do dressings. There is more to nursing than what the community perceives. If they say there is a problem with the man its because they have exhausted the lines of communication…

    • ??
      February 10, 2011

      So why after over a decade in the area he is unable to do on the job training so as to get the calibre of staff he wants? Something is not adding up!

      • P.
        February 11, 2011

        Those who cant teach will do and those who cant do will talk…Nursing is not a job by Astaphans where you learn on the job and get get recognized by the registering council for that training. The APU has its fair share of problems even outside of Benji, he may have just compuonded the problem.

        Instead of writing about the nurses he said were not performing, why didn’t he recommend that these very nurses be recommended to go further their training in psychiatric nursing as close as Barbados? Or even better, to continue the post graduate psychiatric nursing course the college had a few years ago…

        So it makes me wonder about his managerial skills…

        • alas
          February 11, 2011

          He has done that over and over….did you all not read the article. The man has been trying to get nurse to train in mental health for years. The other thing is that nurses are constantly rotated so no one has really spent ten years on the ward…do the person who commented on on the job training is also wrong.
          The junior doctors are not trained psychiatrists but they recognize that and always differ to the psychiatrist..that’s why the specialized ones are called CONSULTants. The problem with the untrained nurse is that they don’t recognize that they are untrained and see themselves a parallel to the consultant…nonsensical.

  5. Nurse in Demand
    February 10, 2011

    I decided not to participate in yesterday’s demonstration but RIGHT NOW Dr. Benjamin has really agravated me. How could a professional attack his colleagues and his own institution as he did yeaterday. That man is a patholigical liar for at no time has any nurse abandoned his or hershift. Dr. Benjamin has never written any letter to any authority about any nurse or nurses abandoning their post this man has blown this thing out of proportion and he is just digging a pit for himself. No one feels comfortable working with this man and his news interview show how arrogant and ignorant he trully is. Griffin is so disrespectful and inconsistent. He has brought the institution and by extension the Ministry of Health to disrepute.

    I am calling on all the staff of APU and the rest of the nursing fraternity to turn out tomorrow from 9:00 am to put this tyrant in his place. Let us come to rescue the health profession and our fellow nurses who put up with this attitude on a daily basis. Let’s restore the nobility of our practice as it has been hijacked by a shovinistic and self serving consultant!

  6. TheREALPROBLEM
    February 10, 2011

    people talkin bout this and that and want to side benji wen dey doh know d real problem. get to know the real man and all u will know wat kind of person he is. not because he is all u friend. personally i think the man need to admit himself. all wat he say there is lie. even doctors he attacking and want to faustrate.

    tell him to check himself one every one you workin with have an issue with him the problem cant be with the staff. all she have to do is SELL HIM OUT on wat he doing.

  7. Nurse Family
    February 10, 2011

    When Dr Sharma was at the APU wasn’t his relationship with the nurses a good one? Did he complain about the experience or qualifications of the nurses? What was his relationship with the visitors as well? Why did he leave? Was he forced to leave? Didn’t he (Sharma) tried his best with whatever nurse(s) he had, worked with them and trained them in whatever way he could? Did he stop family members or gave them a hard time taking home patients for a week-end? Did he complain about staff members at the APU?

    Not because Dr. Sharma has straight hair, clear skin and whatever one commentator says that we must compare him with Dr. Benjamin? Ask the nurses whether he did not have a better relationship with the staff members at the APU and they will tell you that they did. When VSO, JANE WATERS was occupational therapist at the APU, she did a very exceptional job. Nurse or nurses complained that she was getting too much recognition for that, and wrote an article in the Chronicle in direct opposite to that. Deceased Dr. John Royer also tried his best. You never know what good you have till it is gone.

    • somesensesometimes
      February 10, 2011

      So what kind of relationship the Doctor has with the nurses is more important than the CARE and WELLBEING of the patients and the RESULTS that that Doctor is able to acheive? Belle Beff!!
      The treatment of mental patients has changed dramatically over the years. The mentally ill are no longer treated like characters in a Dickensian novel. Please ask former patients of Dr B. what they think of him. I happen to know that most, if not all, think the world of him and are grateful to him for what he has done for them. Surely, that must count for something!

    • If you only knew..
      February 10, 2011

      Well Dr. Benjamin need to go so we can prove your theory to be true!

  8. Anonymous
    February 10, 2011

    This nurses protest was absolutely unnecessary. Did I understand that the matter was deal with at management level? So what now is this protest about. Let me commend the hard working nurses at the APU. But rest assured that there are nurses who are no performing at the psychiatric unit. Some are sent there against their will as punishment. When they cannot perform on other wards they are dumped at APU. The nurse in question is well known to be lazy and unproductive. Then why was she sent at APU to frustrate the work there. This Counselor that was sent to the ward knows nothing of how to work in a therapeutic team. He postures to be a busy body looking for the next fix. Dr Benjamin is qualified to determine who can make a positive impact on a therapeutic team. I applaud the Doctors no nonsense approach. We have made too many strides in mental health to allow passer bys to pull us down. Dr Benjamin is fully committed to mental health and remains the chief advocate for his patients. He has a right to advise on the composition of his team. In future the MOH must consult the Psychiatric on who to work at APU. Only the psychiatrist knows of the best mix of persnnel for getting the work done. I would hope that Mrs Felix would know that this state of confusion that was displayed at the psychiatric Unit yesterday could not help patients in their wellness. It must not happen again.

    • LOL...... MPH........hahahahahahahah
      February 11, 2011

      :lol: We know who you are boss and you should give “suckin up” a break. He has spoken about you too and how incompetent you were that’s why he advised you to leave. Take his side still and that snake will turn on you again. You remember all the HELLS he gave you in the begining? Las palay sot!

  9. .
    February 10, 2011

    I think that as educated professionals that their card some be more informative as to why they are protesting, and not the nonsense i seeing there. Anyway I believe its their right to protest if they have so many unsolved issue. Question however, did the nurses seek other avenues in solving these problems? Like speaking to their bosses.

  10. Anonymous
    February 10, 2011

    8-O will comissioner CARRETTE charge them for public disorder on the compound??? . . . . . will he arrest them or just inform them on the radio?? :?:

    • PAIN
      February 11, 2011

      JUST THINKING OF THAT TOO!

  11. Envar
    February 10, 2011

    isnt it the mad-house boss they talking about… what else do you all expect from a madhouse boss….

    every one of them including the boss needs a psychiatric evaluation…..

    • peno
      February 10, 2011

      benji not no body boss maybe is junior doctors but he cannot be a nurses boss

  12. tanty
    February 9, 2011

    Having read all these comments, I must say these are two professionals that are critical to our health sector, and team work at the APU is of paramount importance, I think Dr. Benjie and the nurses all have good intentions but the line of communication is not the best at this time. The PS, PNO and other higher authorities need to step in and have some assessment of what is happening in this APU; and arrest this situation because if not alot of people will go mad, mad, it is at the level of washing dirty linen in the public and this is not good for the Health Sector more so the PMH.

  13. Sad Day in Dominica
    February 9, 2011

    How can the regular nurse training certificate qualify for a job in the A.P.U.??? The nurses are complaining because they feel they are being treated unfairly, like a student complaining for bad marks from a teacher. The teacher will always win, suck it up and try harder to be better and hard-working nurses. The man has spent years studying and getting qualifications that most of you cannot even dream of getting. He is a bully?? No you nurses just believe you can come and lock the mad patients up in the ward and sit around doing nothing all day, checking up on the patients when you feel like it. If anything the APU is the most delicate part of the Hospital, they need TRAINED nurses there, not ladies who believe they are more qualified than anything just because they wear a white coat when some of them who don’t even have a proper education. I mean just look at the quality of their comments???? Cannot spell simple words… Behave, and accept the fact that the man is the only dominican trained to handle this job. Mostly of the comments here are from nurses and friends of nurses and people who just like trouble. He is the BOSS. There is no equality between you and your BOSS. If he answers his phone, you cannot answer yours or you will be out. and he has the right to send you out. Protest all you want. But you cannot be equal to your BOSS, Love him, Hate him but the fact still remains.

    • ONE LOVE
      February 10, 2011

      WOW …. YOUR PRESSURE UP … HOWEVER THAT NURSE BROKE YOUR HEART . . . ITS YOUR FAULT; just look at those beauties no wonder the RAT want to eat those cats

      their next demonstration I will be standing by their side. I am calling oh genuine Dominicans not to abandon our friends in hard times the hard working nurses of Dominica. AND when carrette charge them he will have to charge ALL OF US and say it on the radio

  14. on the beat
    February 9, 2011

    wiser you should change your name to idiot, because everyone will never have a Doctorate, as a matter of fact what are your qualifications. All members (links) of a chain is as important as the next and they need to work together to have a positive effect.

  15. Breaking Story
    February 9, 2011

    They victimized one of the protesters already – revoked her appointment.

    There is plan for police to stop day 2 of the protest!

    Dominica finish for real.

    • Kalinago in New York
      February 10, 2011

      I cannot believe that, if it is true. Nurses like everyone else have the right to protest if they feel that they are being wronged. Reinstate the women, you thieves and victimizers!!!

      Nurse Gracia Cecilia Robin got electrocuted while on duty from a LIVE exposed wire which an electrician left hanging next to her workstation from the day before, without her knowledge. She is at home, unable to use her right arm for over a year nowand has a range of problems due to that electrical shock. The lady almost lost her life and no one at the hospital wants to help her out in her case. She is appointed yet up to now she is yet to receive her salary from the day she got electrocuted. She is now suing the hospital but even the supervisors in there, their mouth shut.There are so many other real stories which are being swept under the rug. The men and women who care for us when we are sick should be treated better because if they all decide to throw in the towel, all of us in s….t… Maybe there are a few slackers but I know the nurses would not just protest just to be in the media. Come on.

  16. If you only knew..
    February 9, 2011

    I find Dr. Benjamin to be foolish in his response. If you as the Consultant, Boss, Great Kahuna, trained psychiatrist says that your staff is incompetent and untrained then that speaks badly of you. The testimony of any great leader is that they have trained and taught others and made disciples. As long as the staff are willing to work you should have been willing to teach and train. Not call them incompetent. A fully qualified and trained Psycologist was sent to the unit to work. Dr. Benjamin told the young man that he should not interfere with his patients because of some silly playground type disagreement. So the young man reports to work everyday for the past month, and just sits there doing nothing. Whilst the tax payers pay his salary.

  17. Disappointed in Nurses
    February 9, 2011

    but these nurses bold and out of order… IF YOU NOT DOING YOUR WORK AS NURSES THEN THERE IS NOOOO WAY YOU WILL BE PRAISED FOR IT… the lives of patients rest in YOUR hands.. if you mess up and continuously mess up then there is no way anyone should continue to risk the lives of the patients for you…

    Dr Benjamin has a very low tolerance for bullshit… if you have been kicked out it is because you are NOT… and i repeat YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR WORK….. simple.. it doesnt matter if your feelings are hurt… once there is no reasonable explanation why you cannot perform your given task then you should NOT be there.. and that is all Dr Benjamin is addressing. Dr Benjamin does not hold grudges.. he does not attack people.. He has the authority however, as any boss does at the work place, to FIRE YOU, when you do not do your work.. And if that is what these ridiculous nurses are protesting about.. then every employee must protest when they are fired even if they do not do the work assigned to them.

    I’m really disappointed in the actions taken by the nurses.. And you especially Mrs Felix..
    I understand that you have to represent your nurses, but the God-fear woman that you are should be knowledgeable enough to know what is not right.. And that demonstration today was NOT right..
    Really disappointed

    • Muslim_Always
      February 10, 2011

      Many of you in this country support oppression it is so sad.

      • POSSIE GURL
        February 10, 2011

        @Muslim_Always- i totally agree with you. there are two sides to every story. i do not believe the nurses would pretend to be ill treated if they werent.

    • happy
      February 10, 2011

      shut up your mouth you do not know what is going Dr. Benji is lying he is so mad as the patients

      • Disappointed in Nurses
        February 10, 2011

        foolish person.. u believe you are qualified enuff to assess a mad person.. i advice you keep your uninform and and totally baseless comments too ur sad sad self..

    • on the beat
      February 10, 2011

      you are disappointed with the nurses ah, who put you in the position to judge .Only those in the fire can feel the heat. And it is very hot down in the APU, I do hope that you or your family member never reach there. The nurses are demonstrating for the patients by extension.

    • Kalinago in New York
      February 10, 2011

      The demonstration was right. It was about time that nurses begin to demonstrate. Too much nonsense going on in that hospital and they are forced to smile and bear it in the name of professionalism.

    • Truth is.....
      February 11, 2011

      Dr. Benjamin’s approach to leadership and management, trained as he is is bull. Benji not bright you know! he went to do surgery and was not able to pass at all so he tried psychiatry and managed to scrape through thanks to Dr. Grell.

      He can’t keep matters confidential and makes excuses that confidentiality entends to those we are close to. He has taken a dangerously unstable posture in the way he operates which is not compatable with his line of work.

  18. respect is earned
    February 9, 2011

    This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is just too much disrespect going on at PMH. There are consultants who are downright rude and refuse to see the work as a team effort. A great deal of their time is spent outside of the institution, this leads to lack of supervision and poor patient management. This is well known but for some reason it is the support staff that gets the blame if anything goes wrong.

    They all have degrees in clearing their names and passing the buck.

    I will also say that there are some very dedicated professionals at PMH including a few consultants who are trying to make a difference amids all the “high horsedness”.

  19. ...
    February 9, 2011

    well… the demons in high places are showing off their dirty ways even more boldly than ever. it is easier to recognize them now. It just takes the right move to deal with them properly. the Political head of the country is rotten and so affected are those affiliated with him. they don’t even know what sort of pple they are, nor what is about to hit them.

    • Funny Guy
      February 10, 2011

      Yes —, If you aim to piss in the tree root and it pitch to the street it is because of the PM. Well, I have seen so called irreproachable leaders, bu they did not give a fig’s arse about the people. They cared about their image and taking good care of their friends, and they stated so clearly and in your face and no dog barked. I prefer to have a leader who, yes, is looking after himself but is looking after the people too, and that’s the bottom line. Ask 70% of Dominicas. That hurts you, right? Learn to live with it.

  20. Dominican Man
    February 9, 2011

    WE need some male nurses to ease their pressure. Send ME.

  21. Is that self
    February 9, 2011

    I can tell that all the comments above are mostly from nurses or their family…how about another perspective.

    It is true that we are in desperate need for trained nurses at the Psychiatric unit. Without that the nurses sent to work there SADLY lack understanding for their task. Some of them come with the same attitude as the man of the street about ‘spoil’ and ‘obeah’ and fanatism. They are unable to separate their own beliefs from the MEDICAL approach to mental health.

    The other problem is that though the doctor is not the ‘boss’ of the nurse, he does have a certain degree of authority as the patient’s mode of care is decided mainly by him, and others comply. And if others plan he still has to agree. In any instituion SOMEONE has to be in charge..that is LIFE.

    I find that insurbodination, laziness and all sorts of tomfoolery are too easily celebrated in this country. How can nurses and other staff be outside leaving the patients unattended? The APU is the the only area where some nurses falter in their duties, it is just that the good doctor is the only BOLD enough to point it out.

    To the person who said “check his background…he didnt know he would reach so far”…I find this comment sad. Do you mean that he does not have a Burgeouis background so he shouldn’t reach far? Poor Black people…we only think foreigners and white/clear skin people are worthy of success…we never want to see our own in power!

    They keep mentioning junior doctors..these are the same nurses that have been given junior doctors a hard time in the hospital for YEARS and have grudged young doctors just for BEING.

    Some of the nurses in that picture just started to work….they need to sharpen their skills before they protest…check their self before they open themselves to scrutiny..lest they be found lacking (and I know some of them will). Follow Ma Edwards and Felix still.

    Lastly I support the nurses and appreciate their hard work (the good ones)…but they TOO need to understand that they need to work WITH the doctor for the betterment of institution. Come again.
    Sad day in D/CA

    • Sad Day in Dominica
      February 9, 2011

      How can the regular nurse training certificate qualify for a job in the A.P.U.??? The nurses are complaining because they feel they are being treated unfairly, like a student complaining for bad marks from a teacher. The teacher will always win, suck it up and try harder to be better and hard-working nurses. The man has spent years studying and getting qualifications that most of you cannot even dream of getting. He is a bully?? 8-O 8-O No you nurses just believe you can come and lock the mad patients up in the ward and sit around doing nothing all day, checking up on the patients when you feel like it. If anything the APU is the most delicate part of the Hospital, they need TRAINED nurses there, not ladies who believe they are more qualified than anything just because they wear a white coat when some of them who don’t even have a proper education. I mean just look at the quality of their comments???? Cannot spell simple words… Behave, and accept the fact that the man is the only dominican trained to handle this job. Mostly of the comments here are from nurses and friends of nurses and people who just like trouble. He is the BOSS. There is no equality between you and your BOSS. If he answers his phone, you cannot answer yours or you will be out. and he has the right to send you out. Protest all you want. But you cannot be equal to your BOSS, Love him, Hate him but the fact still remains.

      • Nurse
        February 9, 2011

        He is NOT our boss.
        There is a chain of command that does NOT include Benji. Here it is:
        Senior Nurse (Ward Sister)
        Departmental Nurse
        Matron
        Principal Nursing Officer
        Permanent Secretary
        Secretary to the Cabinet

    • BH
      February 9, 2011

      you guys dont understand , that this is not only the mans attitude towards nurses, he has belittled his own junior doctors, and other profesionals, who has come to work at the unit, after 10 years , the unit has no counSellor, no psychologist, no social worker , because all who has passed there , ones they stand up to the man he , pushes them out….i mean let us be realistic,there has to be a problem…and more so the man calls nurses in the district and threaten them, and also stand in the way of people with potencial once he dont like them, and no matter what the man says , the reason the ward and patient care is optimum , like all other wards in the hospital is because nurses hold their end , and i know that nurses spend more time with the patients than doctors do ,cause as i have herad the man only interacts with the patients in his ward rounds and even in the district nurses have complained of the mas behavious, so please , this thing is not a new thing, and if you guys listen to the number of incidents that has occured with this mans actitude, its unbelievable…and this IS NOT HEARSAY

    • anonymous
      February 10, 2011

      The nurses do talk like they on the street. Not in a bad way but in plain DA english. But it suprises me to see see this post where you want to act as if the reality of spiritual forces play no part in mental health. Is it that you deny the existence of such things like what you called ‘obeah’? Or that you feel it has no place in the sterile world of clinical psychology? I world argue that you refer to the verses of the Bible that tell the story of the evil entities that were cast into the pigs. The pigs went and drowned in the river. well pigs are excellent swimmers. But they drowned because of what had been sent in them. It caused them to go against what was in their natural instincts. just like people who are considered “crazy” . They doing something out of the ordinary. And the the nurses lack the training for what they up against. Not only do they have genuinely mentally ill patients, they do also have spiritual aspect . As well as a combination of both. so if the real goal is to heal and repair the patients then they need to treat the whole person and that means being honest about all of the causes of the patients disorder.

      • Is that self
        February 10, 2011

        Obviously you don’t know what you’re talking about. I have no problem with religion….and patients should be allowed to seek counsel with whomever is their spritual leader as this will aid in their healing. But if we attribute a patient’s mental illness ONLY to obeah..why have them on the ward in the first place? Shouldn’t they be healed in church and not be admitted?

        Think of the broader picture…the patient who believes his tumor is ONLY from obeah will not seek his surgeon. The diabetic hypertensive who sees his disease as people doing him bad will not take his meds but instead will only seek a sharman. So my point is IGNORANCE creates a setback in patient care, and creates mistrust between patient and doctor. When doctors say one thing to the patient and the nurse working with him contradicts :the result is chaos..and NOT beneficial to the patient. In the end it’s the patients who lose.

        Some of you commenting without knowing hospital dynamics….nurse hate on doctors all the time..it’s like a festering wound. If what they say is true then let the man be punished, but they should look in the mirror I say.

        P.S All the good REAL hardworking nurses out there…KEEP IT UP!

  22. TINA
    February 9, 2011

    I am kinda scared of nurses now. They all have signs that say some negative thing. I see one saying mentally ill,one pressure up,mental helath in trouble. so who going to PMH if it have so many sick nurses caring for sick patients?. Boy I well scared papa. I will think twice before I go PMH, I will be more sick by d time I leave. Just an observation. Don’t you think those nurses should have met with Dr. Benjamin or some other supervisory staff before taking such drastic actions.? Did they write letters? Do they have documented complaints? Hey Benji have ALL his though. I am telling you too many sick caring for d sick I fraid.

    • BELZBOB
      February 9, 2011

      That’s a very good point. I think the nurses should have thought to seek some advice before taking to the streets and the media. I do not know if they have been, but from the story I can’t tell if the nurses were interviewed. It does say that they held a silent protest so… Anyway, it would be nice to know that they have made formal complaints and have written proof of their reasons for protesting. Other than that, I must say it looks very bad for them. The responses the doctor gave seem to be very typical of the general work ethics in Dominica sadly.

    • Anonymous
      February 10, 2011

      wel i think that should not reach that level of demonstration there is always someone who is prepared to listen and trust me our pemanent secretary is the one who listens and understands. in the area of training every year establishment enxtends invitations to apply for priority areas of training so if mr benji had communicated properly that would have been addressed.the placards messages were very vague to the outsider it does not say much there is much more to the unrest.

  23. lol
    February 9, 2011

    so who is Carrette gonna charge nw for this peaceful protest??

  24. v.g
    February 9, 2011

    seems to me the good doctor has a better than, too professional, forgot where he came from he came from[wesley] problem.he must learn to deal with people especially when innocent lives are involve

    • BELZBOB
      February 9, 2011

      They didn’t obstruct, disturb or insinuate anything having to do with the government so I guess no charges this time.

    • Wesley
      February 10, 2011

      You need to explain your comment. It lacks sense!

    • enough is enough
      February 10, 2011

      What do you mean by saying “forgot where he came from he came from (wesley) problem”. Are you taking a slight at Wesley people? It is obvious that you came up against one of the many intelligent professionals from the village of Wesley and you could not match up. Don’t hate us for the high standards we expect from our subordinates. You will report to us when you have to and do so with the ought most respect and humility that is to afford to us the persons in authority.

      He is not the only Wesley Person in authority, Domlec, chief education officer; these are also Wesley men that we the people of Wesley are proud of. For your information the village of Wesley have one of the highest amounts of professionals on the island, so don’t player hate for our success.

    • Wesley two
      February 10, 2011

      What do u mean by (wesley)? Please explain. We are waiting, and think carefully before u type. Go on………………….

    • Wesley
      February 10, 2011

      We from Wesley all take this as a compliment. Wesley do not only have the criminals but there are also the professionals who place high value on work ethics and professionalism. Many professionals have come from Wesley but for this very same reason decided to leave the country to work elsewhere. Dominicans always seem to have a problem working under people with high standards. This has even become worse since the bar for people to get into professions like nursing has been lowered. I read the posters that these nurses are holding and they all appear so trifling. What message is it that they are communicating to us? We need more of Dr. Benji on the island.These nurses better suck it up and get on with the program.

      • Wesley again
        February 11, 2011

        I agree with the previous comment 100%. Not only is the bar to get into nursing lowered, some of those nurses still cannot pass their certification exams.

        On the other hand, Dr. Benjamin got educated when the bar was still high. Dr. Benjamin needs our prayers since he has to deal with all these incompetent nurses.

  25. Hmmmmm
    February 9, 2011

    I NEED TO HEAR THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ON THAT ONE…..HIS GOOD FRIEND. NO WONDER BENJIE FEEL ENCOURAGED TO DO THOSE THINGS.

    AND FROM WHAT I’M GATHERING THE MAN NOT EVEN SMART…….HE CAN’T EVEN PERFORM HIS JOB PROPERLY.

    THERE IS MORE EMBARRASSMENT TO COME, “JOBS FOR THE BOYS” MUST END.

    AND BY THE WAY IS NOT BENJIE ALONE THAT DISRESPECTING JUNIOR DOCTORS, THIS IS A CULTURE THAT IS NOW INVADING PMH.

    • icecold
      February 9, 2011

      please note that junior doctors have basically come from a sheltered university environment and have now entered the workplace. Though the knowledge may be there, we all know that experience is what makes a successful doctor. So dear consultants and other experienced practioners please spend a little less time making big bucks in your private office and spend a little more time doing what the government pays you to do, and that includes supervising of the junior staff….be the examples man. I thank the junior doctors for their care… cause they are the ones who take the time to explain to clients what is going on. Thanks for coming back to Dominica and serving your country at a time when most university graduates do not return to Dominica. This is the group of individuals that basically man the district and hospital health services. I am no medical personel but a mere satisfied patient who has stopped giving private doctor l’argent mwe, my good district junior doctor does a great job. Let us encourage those hard working dominicans. And nurses do buck up, cause i tell you it is starting to look like nursing is a fashion statement. We need folks like sister prosper back in the service she knows how to woop ones behind back to health… nurses learn from the great ones..sis prosper, sis linton, ns phillip, ns graham, sis thomas, sis/bro sabroche etc

  26. page
    February 9, 2011

    Well well , I had an experience with doctor benjie for two week and it was mixed. He said something to me that was very unprofessional. I only prayed to God for my time to pass so I could get what I wanted. I believe people like doctor benjie will c ause young women psychological distress when they should be helping them

    • BELZBOB
      February 9, 2011

      To this person and anyone having the experiences with this doctor or any other doctor or professional in any field, when these things happen, please make a written complaint. As long as it is on file then these things can no longer be simply dismissed as hear-say.

  27. Muslim_Always
    February 9, 2011

    I am delighted when people stand for their rights. I see some senior nurses so I am convinced something is terrible wrong. The APU supposed to be a center of communication and understanding, they counsel and is expected to have a code of ethics.

    It seems to me that Dr Benji is a very poor administrator. It seems to me what the nurse are saying about him are all true. When Dr. Sharma was there, I’ve never heard of these problems.

    Time to dismiss Dr. Benji, he lacks professionalism.

    • Disappointed in Nurses
      February 9, 2011

      When Dr Sharma was there no one dared confront him because he was “of a higher class” and “his hair was straight” and “his nose was thin”..

      majority of the nurses working at the APU today would only work there in their dreams…Please come on.. Open you eyes.. and actually pay attention… this issue has been growing like a fungus with the nurses. I understand that the sister nurses have to help and support each other but they know what is right and they damn well know when it is wrong… They would never want a nurse on their ward NOT DOING HER JOBS…. Come on.. people lives are at risk.. it is a hospital!!!..

      YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BE MAKING MISTAKES AND MISJUDGEMENTS… And if you support the fact that a nurse should be allowed to get paid and not perform her work… then you are just as sad as they are.

  28. doctor love
    February 9, 2011

    THAT WAS AN ILLEGAL GATHERING,COME ON MR. GARRETT,WHY HAVEN’T YOU CHARGED THE NURSES.

  29. sommet
    February 9, 2011

    job well done especially these senior proud nurses. well you all are fed up with alll these long bully at the unit. the Administration should have dealt with this a long time ago not removiing the worker form the unit. there should be the best place to work and this pschiatrist should help people to long to work there.

    am pround of DNA you made domicican aware of the bullying u all suffering. Nurses stay with DNA it might be U next. support your nurses

  30. Ajihal
    February 9, 2011

    i guess this man feels good by bully. so who bullying him now. what his family saying for that. too much complaints against this man/. its seems APU workers are not happy. what the health miniister saying about this. what if all workers leave him to man the patient wen he only comes twice a week on the ward

    benji reflect about this you need other members of staff. go down to your level. other consultant dont behave so. in dominica alone u can do that.

  31. Ajihal
    February 9, 2011

    you all people dont know. all this man doing on the media is lie, lie . if we go for a drink of water, of go to the washroom while we inform, him when other nurses are continueing the ward round, he vex. he answerring phones while a critical case going on and even making appointment for his office. \\
    but the nurses cannot take a minute break.

    this man say he can frustrate all of us. he though want some people there because he said he has other people for the job, so he would start an arguement.

    benji is sick, he said he has the power to admit all dominican but he forget he can be admited to.

    benji you better stop this bully or we will stop it for you. years this nonesence going on it has to stop,

    • Know nut
      February 9, 2011

      Was that written by a NURSE God help us I always thought that to be a nurse one had to be a High School graduate, but from reading the spelling , construction and intonation of this missive I am of the opinion that this was not deliberate, What low standards now infiltrate the nursing profession.Thanks AJIHAL for pointing that to us

      • Wesley
        February 10, 2011

        Point well taken. It does not seem that the standard is there. If that is what Dr. Benjamin has to deal with, well God help him.

    • west side
      February 10, 2011

      just a little spelling lesson for our nurse here:

      “continueing” continuing
      “answerring” answering
      “admited” admitted
      “nonesence” nonsense

      • TeteMorne I from...
        March 12, 2011

        Poor Dr Benji. befo re I deal with such nurses, I’d rather shoot myself. magway sa.

  32. badvibes
    February 9, 2011

    I wonder if dem nurses had permission to protest boy ?
    Well, I hope so! Becasue I here the ,man really want to be de Commissioner.
    All u better look out..
    lol..

  33. B.O/M.
    February 9, 2011

    NURSES HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST,THEY ARE HUMAN THEY ENDURE ALOT OF ABUSE FROM THE PUBLIC.THEY SHOULD NOT TAKE IT FROM AN ARROGANT MAN LIKE THIS.WE ALL CAN RECALL WHEN HE WAS A JUNIOR DR,HE DEPENDED ON THE NURSES FOR DIRECTIONS.HE NEED TO GET OFF HIS HIGH HORSE.
    HE NEED TO LEARN TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS NURSES BEFORE WRITING LETTERS ABOUT THEM.DR BEMJ U KNOW WHAT?NEVER EXPECTED GET EXCITED

  34. Piper
    February 9, 2011

    The nurses can’t be blamed for their lack of training. Furthermore, you cannot just rotate nurses in and out of their units for which they are not trained.

    But from his comments, this doctor appears to be a pompous jerk. How can he not be aware of the vibe in the unit if he works there day in day out. Is writing up nurses the only way he knows how to deal with people? Are so many nurses that bad?

    There seem to be one common denominator here and it is Dr. Benjamin.

    • BH
      February 9, 2011

      listen doctor sharma , did pretty well with the nurses he had on that unit and also , he lsietend to the nurses , this dr benji , as i have been told dont listen to anyyyyyyyyyyyone, and listen the nurses asigned to the ward that day was on duty and dont think for a minute that this situation will blow over , benji ned to recognise he isnt god

  35. JJL
    February 9, 2011

    COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION , COMMUNICATION.

  36. J Vidal
    February 9, 2011

    the nurse with the shades lukin hot no lie……..

  37. Hugo Grotius
    February 9, 2011

    Benji garcon u are a real psychologists, :lol: :lol: :lol: u good wee……

  38. Interesting...
    February 9, 2011

    Majority of the nurses at the hospital have an attitude problem, and if we not hypocrite enough we will admit that! We experience this at the casualty, when we visit someone on the ward, and when we interact with them due to our illnesses. It is high time they straighten themselves our and realise that health care is a service industry too.

    I agree totally with Dr. Benjamin to address poor performance issues formally. If we had more persons like him at the wheel of health care, and the public sector by extension, productivity and the service satisfaction would definitely improve!

    • on the beat
      February 9, 2011

      that is your thoughts interesting I hope u don’t end up under his care at the APU because u will see. The nurses are trying to save the people of Dominica before it is tooooooooo late.

  39. SHADOWS AND DUST
    February 9, 2011

    Locals who are in a high position are queezing their own people, but they are kissing those foreigners behinds, especially those white people at Ross.

    • The truth
      February 9, 2011

      Something wrong with foreigners? It’s people like you that cripple countries. Foreigners are yor future bread. Is the same foreigners coutry you would run to if you got the chance.

      • ????
        February 9, 2011

        Foreigners are your future bread????????????

      • SHADOWS AND DUST
        February 9, 2011

        future bread? Really? Wow!!!!!

    • desie
      February 9, 2011

      i hope you know because of those people at ross thousands of dominicans have food on there table
      you got land lords,cleaners,taxi drivers,builders,shopkeepers,etc… so chill

  40. Anonymous
    February 9, 2011

    the permanent secretary of the ministry of health and dr.benjamin has no difference. not only these 2 but the general attitude of some workers including doctors, nurses and administrative workers stinks. the nurses i c here would really hav been fed-up to protest. stand 4 ur right. dr benjamin is da one who should seek mental evaluation

    • lisa dodds
      February 9, 2011

      seriously….. he is mad like his patients. too pompous for a leadership

    • You are right
      February 9, 2011

      Like him this woman has no class. They putdown their subordinates and act as if they are infallible. I even hear that she’s been called to the BAR! :lol:

      • anonymous
        February 10, 2011

        i hear her administrative workers are so tense when shes around – they keep making mistakes!

  41. ....
    February 9, 2011

    Wait wait wait… I deal with Dr. Benji and I find he is ok..
    The nurses have a right to protest if they feel they are being treated unfairly.

    BUT what I find ridiculous is that we have nurses in the APU who are not trained for that area. This is crazy! How can an APU work with “regular” nurses? APU need psychologists and people trained in that area. How can they help me deal with depression if they think I’m crazy? How can they help me deal with PostPartum Depression if they think I vex because my man leave me. Honestly we have some nurses who should not be in APU. These patients are sick but our Dominican mentallity thinks they are “crazy”.

    I think both Benjamin and the DNA need to sit together and figure out a strategy to help our people.Mental health is a serious issue and we do not need this when so many people need our expert help.

    DNA see that trained an qualified nurse in psychiatry are placed at the APU
    Dr. Benjamin for your sake I do hope that you are not being disrespectful and abusive to the nurses. If they are all we have right now you need to help them the best you can so that they can help our people.

    • If you only knew..
      February 9, 2011

      He only seemed ok because you weren’t working under him. Nurses in Dominica have never been known to protest for the fun of it. A lot has been kept hush hush because the patients always came first. But how much can they take! And it’s not just nurses….the cleaners, ward aids and especially the junior doctors.

    • wise
      February 9, 2011

      Who tell you that the nurses in APU aren’t trained?..If you do not know something is best you shut your mouth

      • wiser
        February 9, 2011

        U need to shut yur damn mouth.. how can the regular nurse training qualify for a job in the A.P.U.??? The nurses are complaining because they feel they are being treated unfairly, like a student complaining for bad marks from a teacher. The teacher will always win, suck it up and try harder to be better and hard-working nurses. The man has spent years studying and getting qualifications that most of you cannot even dream of getting. He is a bully?? 8-O No you nurses just believe you can come and lock the mad patients up in the ward and sit around doing nothing all day, checking up on the patients when you feel like it. If anything the APU is the most delicate part of the Hospital, we need TRAINED nurses there, not ladies who believe they are more qualified than anything just because they wear a white coat when some of them who don’t even have a proper education. I mean just look at the quality of their comments???? Cannot spell simple words… Behave, and accept the fact that the man is the only dominican trained to handle this job.

        • true??
          February 10, 2011

          You should know monoploy is never good. when he says yes to your mental illness, who can say no?? Food for thought.

    • peno
      February 9, 2011

      BENJAMIN IS Liar, APU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH NURSES TRAINED BY HIM AND SOME OTHER DOCTORS. THEY RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATES. THAT IS HOW THEY GOT THEIR JOBS. THAT MAN TONGUE TO LONG. AND ALL NURSES REGISTERED ARE TRAINED IN PSYCHIATRIC BASIC LEVEL CAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE COURSE REQUIREMENT IN NURSING . WHY HE NOT TELLING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT HIS JUNIOR DOCTORS A NOT TRAINED PSYCHIATRIC AND IS ALWAYS LEAVING THEM FOR TWO WEEKS OR MORE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. MRS IS A WICKED MAN.

    • It is clear
      February 9, 2011

      It is clear that your contact with him was brief. This man is self centered and arogant. You cannot answer an urgent call when with him but he speaks to his kids, his contractor, his everything but u can’t go to the washroom when in conference with him. He takes an entire Friday to go pickup his grown daughter who’s abroad from the daughter and the next week he takes the entire Wednesday to drop his sister or aunt at the airport. Then a few weeks later he stays home three days to rest when he does not feel well. He say’s heill be there for eight (8) and strolls in at 10:30 0r 11 because he had to go to Ross to organize his business for the students he gets paid to facilitate at the unit but NO other staff member has family, or personal business that they are supposed to attend to is Griffin Benjamin alone who can. He is so selfish! He keeps you waiting on him for hours (patients & staff) and does not even apologize! He can forget but any team member who forgets to do something or forget to remind him to do something gets it!

      My friend you have not spent suffient time with this MONSTER!

      • question
        February 10, 2011

        I have one question for “It is clear” by the sound of it u are a nurse. I would like you to answer this question…. which physician do u know comes to the ward at 8.00 to commence ward rounds?

    • Me
      February 9, 2011

      So why is it he does not want the Mental Health Nurse who now has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?
      Why did he not speak of this nurse, who was also part of the protest?

      • Juror #6
        February 10, 2011

        Having a degree in psychiatry and psychology is two different things.

        • solution
          February 10, 2011

          One solution to the problem. It appears that Dr Benjamin is the only one trained to care for the mentally ill. The nursing administration need to pull out all of the nurses and and let the him run the unit. There certainly won’t be any dissatisfaction since everything will be taken care of PERFECTLY.

  42. Black Majic
    February 9, 2011

    That’s what I’m talking about. Dominicans sould not take any cr_p from nobody. When we are agreived we should show that we are not happy. We live in what is supposed to be a free society so we should have the right to protest against injustice.

  43. Disclaimer
    February 9, 2011

    Aye them placards self well funny!!! I fed up with that!! Nurses allu give it to me papa!

  44. malpardee
    February 9, 2011

    correction to my last comment typo error… meeting.

  45. malpardee
    February 9, 2011

    oh my god! these people need help and that’s what they get in return. Staff and doc fight. This never happened when Dr Shamar was here. HE IS THE BEST! Y DID HE LEAVE? SOMEBODY TELL ME. This is totally unacceptable in a mental ward. Everyone should worry about the well being of these patients instead, is a battle field. My suggestion, let the patients go and dr b and staff need to be the patients. Dominica has become that low, u mean administrative staff can’t have a metting and voice their concerns in a civilized manner? Come on….jesus help them…

    • on the beat
      February 9, 2011

      he left because he was bullied out by DR. Benjamin. This is a fact

      • wise
        February 9, 2011

        you are so right …Dr. Sharma was a great Doctor I can attest to that

    • I have the crazies
      February 9, 2011

      You mean d one injection fits all doctor, boy dominicans allu not easy when d time is rite. Sharma?Come again.

      • I in the kitchen!!!
        February 9, 2011

        Don’t confuse Dr. Sharma with Dr. Taed….Dominica will never have another caring and honest Dr. like Dr. Sharma.

        Nurses;… who in the kitchen that feel the heat!! do what u have to do!!!!

  46. One Day
    February 9, 2011

    If these brave nurses did not have a permit to demonstrate, I think it sets a damper in carriette case against UWP. I am proud of these nurses, this is how people have to stand up against injustice. Stand up for your rights.. I hope that more and more people follow suit.

  47. Anonymous
    February 9, 2011

    Kudos to DNO! Very comprehensive report.

  48. Anonymous
    February 9, 2011

    As nurses, these people should know there is a difference between symptoms and the cause. The Psychiatrist and what he do is symptomatic of what happens at Management Level – Ministry of Health managers need to take full responsibility for the action of this man, since many complaints have been written against him.

    The nurses know that before you treat a cancer it is sometimes it is necessary to cut it out – the Ministry should be called upon to do the necessary with this cancer!

  49. BH
    February 9, 2011

    Well its amazing how we respond to situations in dominica. does anyone realise that a protest like that from the hardworking nurses in dominica , would happen, with no vallied reason , i myself have heard that this DR benjamin has literally threaten staff members and others , from since the man was assigned to the unit 10 yeasr ago, he has ran out from the unit , one senior doctor, DR.S, AT LEAST 3 COUNSELLORS, 3 SOCIAL WORKERS , cause one nurse to retire before time, and has written against a number of nurses and other staff, (please people ) this is a chronic problem. he acuses staff members of using drugs with no evidence , and declared a senior staff member insane, and threaten to lock her up . social workers who have worked side by side with him he says they are incompetent only when they have stood up to him. so the man clearly has a narcisistic attitude, and this thing have been happening to long. i support my nurses 100%

    • lisa dodds
      February 9, 2011

      The man obviously needs treatment…… Know him presonnaly.

    • peno
      February 9, 2011

      THEY NEED TO PUT MRS IN HIS PLACE.

    • for real?
      February 9, 2011

      He needs psychiatric evaluation A.S.A.P!

    • Running in d family
      February 9, 2011

      I think it might be genetic. I don’t want to speak ill of them,but I think Dr.benjamin, and his entire family, those in Wesley believe they are the only learned folks in medicine. They walk around with a certain arrogance. They don’t even greet people. For people involved in the health industry, they have the I am up here you are down there attitude. That comes across as very nasty, and humiliating to individuals who have to work with them. Dr. Benjamin you are not the authority on every issue, a good leader knows that.

      • Disappointed in Nurses
        February 9, 2011

        YOU MUST BE FOOLISH…. YOU ARE REFERING TO THE MAN THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH PAROS AND MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE FOE A LIVING? ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE TLKIN ABOUT THE RIGHT DOCTOR?

  50. Anonymous
    February 9, 2011

    Papa dem nurses looking sexy.

    I wonder if these are the sexy girls of labor. lol

    • POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
      February 9, 2011

      We need constructive comments please!!!

  51. REALIST
    February 9, 2011

    It was about time! I thought Nobody could do anything to get rid of that old rat! Tired tell those nurses they mentally disturbed and need treatment when he himself damn well need the assessment. See the amount of mad man walking about Roseau! When Dr, Sharma was there u couldn’t see have the amount of paros in Roseau! Even telling higher office Doctors that in position ages before him they need mental assessment. GET RID OF HIM! HE NEED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT!

    BRING DR SHARMA BACK!

    • Straight Jacket Nurses
      February 9, 2011

      Bring back Sharma to give all of dem straight jacket injection.LOL. That is why we were not seeing them. Dr. sharma would GIVE them d straight jacket, and they would be left in the unit to dribble on themselves! Dr. Benjamin now has a new approach that the family should be involved in caring for their mentally ill relatives and that is why we see them on the streets in Roseau. The families neglecting them! Doctor Benjamin demanding that families care for them, and that theyare treated and released, that is why the nursed have to give the BEST possible care to the patients before they leave. I mean Benji has a plan, but you see those nurses like the old style, footay dem mad men wid d straight jacket injection, and d job is done. I guess Benji not liking dat style.

      • ...
        February 9, 2011

        are u retarted or wat??? have u ever worked a shift as a nurse anywhere in PMH?

    • Anonymous
      February 9, 2011

      Don’t talk about things you are not trained in. The standard, worlwide practice of Psychiatry demands that most patients should be managed as out patients, not locked up! Also, the increase in paros is due to an increase in drug use. Your mother should tell you to say no to drugs, not a doctor

    • Disappointed in Nurses
      February 9, 2011

      to: REALIST

      IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO NAME CALLING POST A PICTURE OF YOUR SELF ON THIS LET ME TELL YOU WHO LOOKING LIKE DE RAT.. Stupid ignorant fool…

  52. Playboy
    February 9, 2011

    Bravo, nurses!!

    It’s a long time that this man should have been chopped down a few pegs.

    He’s the only doctor I’ve ever known in the hospital or anywhere who doesn’t understand that doctors and nurses are dependent on each other; one cannot do without the other.

    He acts like a God unto himself.

    Keep it up, nurses.

    • Disappointed in Nurses
      February 9, 2011

      hey watch your mouth….

      you are ridiculous if for one second you believe your boss should act as your equal.. WHERE IN THIS WORLD DO YOU KNOW A STUDENT BEING PRAISED FOR BELIEVING HE IS THE TEACHER’S EQUAL IN A CLASS….? At WHICH WORK PLACE DO YOU HEAR OF AND EMPLOYEE BELIEVING HE IS HIS EMPLOYER’S EQUAL… Damn it man.. open you blasted eyes..

      NO ONE IS ACTING LIKE GOD.. HE IS ACTING AS THE CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST! BEACUSE HE IS THE BOSS…

      • hahahaha
        July 29, 2011

        “Disappointed in nurses” we know that you are HIS “CLOSE” relative, actually his CHILD! Good u tryna stand up for dad, but u KNOW the truth….. Remember what happened in Canefield that night? Were the cops able to help? U guys retrieved the WRIST WATCH na?

  53. mouse
    February 9, 2011

    Do you know that a medical director was intimidated as well?

    • I glad!!!!
      February 9, 2011

      Not just one…many! They see it as punishment to be placed at the APU to work

  54. Deoborah
    February 9, 2011

    jealous dose nurses jealous of de man mansion at Beau Bois

    • lisa dodds
      February 9, 2011

      strupess

    • happy
      February 9, 2011

      what he have for people to jealous shut up your dam mouth strupes you just like him

    • Anonymous
      February 9, 2011

      hahahahahah

  55. The truth
    February 9, 2011

    Well done nurses. Fight for your right. Employers like to bully too much. I have had the same problems and have had to deal with them so good on you. It’s a shame Dominica don’t have an employment tribunal. At least not to my knowledge

  56. JESSICA FLETCHER
    February 9, 2011

    I am so proud of you nurses. I am especially proud of Sister Felix; lead by example, lead from the front. On a serious note, this exposes so many problems with our country on a whole. The government knows the reputation of this man. Yet they choose to ignore it because he is an avid supporter of the party. The man has no cooth, he has no respect and for a person who should be a professional he has no confidentiality. He has been heard in public divulging people’s psychiatric and medical information and he has also been heard stating how powerful he is because if he declares you mad he can end your career.

    I am very disturbed at the trend we take that if something does not affect us directly we do nothing. Well, I can tell you of my experience with this man and it is ridiculous. By the time he was finished I knew everything about Honorable Minister’s son who has a drug problem. He treats people like dirt because the government allows him to. If they put a spoke in his wheel, he would behave.

    Nurses, I am happy that you stand up for your rights. I hope you do not get intimidated and back down. We know of the tactics used lately to intimidate people into submission. I would also advise that nurses are a pivotal part of our society and we cannot afford to annoy them. They are already underpaid the least you can do is to respect them. By the way, has anyone examined the level of success of this psych doctor? How much counselling does he give to patients? Besides medicating people to keep them calm what is he doing to help people recover? How about people who have addictions? What has he done?

    I will say it again, we will only act when it hits home. Go nurses go!!!

  57. worried dominican
    February 9, 2011

    thats how some people are when they are in power,i guess there are no laws in dominica to protect workers from abuse by there superiors fight on nurses

  58. POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
    February 9, 2011

    100% Solidarity my nursing colleagues!!!! Enough is Enough!!!!

    Harrassment and Bullying shoul NOT BE TOLERATED!!!!! 00000000000000000 Tolerance!!!!

    Health Professional!!!!

    • POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
      February 9, 2011

      Senior nurses are protesting – this is serious!!! I can see Rosie Felix (President of the Dominica Nurses Association) and also Denise Royer Edwards!! The harrassment and bully ing CANNOT BE TOLERATED ANYMORE!

      We are all professionals in our own right. What is important is that we are competent in what we do,and we always behave in a professioal manner. The psychiatric unit is not the backyard of Dr Benjamin, it is a public health service and he needs to trust and value his working colleagues (doctors and nurses) and respect them.

      I have worked in the past at Princess Margaret Hospital with Dr Benjamin, and I must highlight that he demonstrated arrogance to the highest degree. Extremely condescending!!! But I always stood up to him and demonstrated to him that I am extremely knowlegable in my field of nursing!!

      Fantastic action!!!!! I wish I was in DA to be holde my placard very high above my head. Way to go colleagues!

      00000000000000000000000000000000 Tolerance for HARRASSMENT AND BULLYING. If Dr Benjamin were to be practising in the UK or USA, he would have been suspended and investigated, and based on the findings, disciplinary would have been taken against him!!!

      Health Professional!!!

      • POSITIVELY DOMINICAN
        February 9, 2011

        Disciplinary action would have been taken against him!!!!

        I wish I was in DA to hold my placard very high above my head!!!!!!

        Health Professional!!!!!!!!1

      • Wiser
        February 9, 2011

        See your life boi… The MAN has his qualifications and he is the BOSS he has the right to be arrogant. Maybe if you spent your time getting those degrees rather than sitting around on your as* you could meet him as your equal..

        • peno
          February 10, 2011

          get your facts right Benji is boss of his junior doctors not nurses.

      • Disappointed in Nurses
        February 9, 2011

        you are a sad sad person… i feel sorry for you.. If by any chance that nurse who got expelled was attending you brother or you sister.. you son or your daughter… you would be singing a different tune… As a health professional, you should know that health comes first… you cannot put down the Dr because he is doing his job…

        Sad Sad person

  59. SHADOWS AND DUST
    February 9, 2011

    Carette will formally notify them about two months from now.

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      February 9, 2011

      Cannot see how he could do that. The article states that they protested on the lawn at the side of the APU. Surely that is hospital grounds.

      There should be a investigation regarding these claims. As a professional, Dr Benjamin should not have made the comments he made. He should have just said ‘no comment’, and let the appropriate authority investigate the matter.

      Nurses are a very important part of any society. They would not have taken things this far for no reason. There are to many so called high profiled people in Dominica who believe that they can do/say what ever.

  60. JC
    February 9, 2011

    I see some some senior nurses in this protest.. all these people can’t be wrong. to go that far, something must be terribly wrong. I mean we can’t have people abusing their power, we have rights, we must stand. Who are the fools who make the appointments, who are the fools who makes up the rules and regulations and don’t implement them. If a supervisor’s staff is unsatisfied with him/her then the supervisor should be changed. I believe management should be evaluated not only by upper management but also by staff and staff evaluation should play an important role in renewal of management. We should introduce new policies which can help employer/employee relationships. These are the things the opposition should be concern about and use to their advantage instead of focusing on man. There are a lot issues but you are too blind to see.

    • BC
      February 9, 2011

      JC,

      Great contribution. Do you know of other qualified and interested doctors that could be appointed to replace or possibly assist Dr. Benjamin as the head of this unit? There may be many who live outside of Dominica, but the current climate as indicated by some of the comments on DNO, does not encourage many to return.

  61. Truth, justice & Righteousness
    February 9, 2011

    Way to gooooooooooooooooooooooooo nurses! Solidarity!! You make me proud! You don’t have to take any crap from anybody.. Show them!

  62. Precious LOL
    February 9, 2011

    :cry: The nurses have a right to protest. This doc is pressing junior doctors so much that u wonder if he himself was never a junior. Oh by the way, check his background he never thought he would reach so far in life and do not want any one to climb the lader; But Doctor Benjamin God is in charge and not you, and we all must die one day, and you will rut and burn in HELL.

    • JOkes
      February 9, 2011

      DId they get permission to protest? maybe they will get arrested next. LOL

    • peno
      February 9, 2011

      WELL SAID

    • Anonymous
      February 9, 2011

      I worked as Dr. Benjamin’s junior doctor and I was never oppressed. Only the lazy doctors feel oppressed because they want to strut around with their white jackets, collect money and NAH work.

  63. bigger
    February 9, 2011

    one can have a demonstration outside ones’ home if you like but can’t take it on to the street without a permit. IT’S ILLEGAL

    • Papa Dom
      February 9, 2011

      Did they take it to the streets? as far as the pics show, the nurses are gathered outside their place of work, which is not a public road or highway. It is strange how persons like you what is illegal when it pertains to other people but never when it relates to skerritt.

  64. Cobra
    February 9, 2011

    Please admit all of them and let the patients go…This is pure madness we just plot these senseless PR activities without first dialogue with all concerned. Nursing like other careers have been invaded by some sick people .. Doc Benji has certainly done his best for mental patients in this country since Doc Sharma.

    • on the beat
      February 9, 2011

      Cobra in the history of Dominica Have you ever heard of Nurses demonstrating against a Doctor then we must ask ourself a question. Our nursing staff, and mental patients are in DANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • rediculous
        February 9, 2011

        they never protested before because of friends and politics or have affairs with the doctors! sometimes watching some nurses too people wonder if they are educated to deal with the public farless to remember how to treat a condition

    • peno
      February 9, 2011

      COBRA DID BENJI DIALOGUE WITH ANYBODY BEFORE WRITING IS NASTY LETTERS TO THE PS?

  65. Aaaaa
    February 9, 2011

    Whose gonna protest dem rude and abusive nurses they got in PMH? No one likes to be bossed around ladies.

    • P.
      February 10, 2011

      you have your democratic right to report and demonstrate… you are not in a communist country! take the nurses name, status and incident and make your report eh eh. Who preventing you? Stop complaining and do something about it.

  66. whistler
    February 9, 2011

    Hats of to you Nurse its your Demorcatic right,slavery was abolished but their are seeds still germinating in Dominica thats a fact…

    however you all looking so beautiful….a date out would be fine to help ease the stress..
    how about the Garage later!!

  67. good boy
    February 9, 2011

    Mr Carrette, Whats your response to this one did you issue a permit to the nurses, well then arrest them for illegal demonstration.

    • jim
      February 9, 2011

      Stop being a fool and be in solidarity with the nurses. Everything has its time and place.

    • Protester
      February 9, 2011

      We had the company of two plain clothes policemen throughout – one had a camera, taking countless shots – maybe ensuring that each nurse was photographed. The other kept writing notes.

      • good boy
        February 9, 2011

        my comment was meant to show how foolish Mr Carrette is

  68. Anonymous
    February 9, 2011

    Oh no poor nurses. I see my past teacher there and she is a highly respected lady so this must be serious. Good luck !!!!!!!

  69. A nurse
    February 9, 2011

    Correction – the doctor is not the boss of the nurses, he is a professional colleague and want to Boss the nurses.

  70. I glad!!!!
    February 9, 2011

    I GLAD!!!!!! Too much nonsense has been going on in A.P.U. I’m glad the nurses had the balls to do something about it.The resident Psychiatrist is a narcissistic bully and it was time somebody stood up to him. He belittles the staff and isn’t satisfied until he has brought tears to the eyes of anyone unfortunate enough to get a tongue lashing from him. Then to top it all off he writes letters and would cc it to anyone he thinks has some say in your upward movement in the public service so that your personal file remains tarnished forever. Needless to say he not only holds a degree in psychiatry but is extremely stingy with the truth. At any given time he can be found to have inconsistencies…aka Lies, in those letters which he writes.
    The most dreaded time for any hospital worker is when the new rotations are posted and one realizes that they have been transfered to the Acute Psychiatric Unit. Most seek changes immediately! Not because of the patients, nor the conditions at the unit, but simply because no one wants to work with the resident Psychiatrist Dr. Griffin Benjamin!

    • Anonymous
      February 9, 2011

      You all too lie! You all protest working at APU because most of you look down on the mentally ill. And that’s what upsetting Benjie. Also, after all is said and done, you all can all throw the word narcisistic around but do you all know the DSM 4 criteria for diagnosing narcisistic personality disorder? And only Sharma and Benjie have the legal authority to diagnose psychiatric illnesses.

  71. lady
    February 9, 2011

    I notice so many Ladies around but…..

    A nurse friend of mine was actually crying once when she explained to me about the way that the boss there … Benjie…. was treating her and other members of staff. That was around Easter last year. So this is not a new thing and it would appear the nurses and even junior doctors thier have been getting the rough end of the stick with that Doc. I wonder if he getting to be like Dr. Taed?

  72. Deoborah
    February 9, 2011

    Arrest them, charge them for breach of the Public Order Act, soon every right thinking Dominican will be charged for breach of that Act!

  73. D/A in Texas
    February 9, 2011

    I AM NOT IN DOMINICA SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW…..DOES DOMINICAN NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST OR A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH? EVERY TIME I HEAR OF A PROTEST IN DA, I HEAR OF ARREST. HOW ARE THE WORKERS SUPPOSE TO GET THEIR POINT ACROSS THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THE WANT OR DESERVE? I AM JUST CURIOUS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW….PLEASE HELP ME CAUSE I HAVE BEEN GONE FOR WAY TO LONG!!

  74. We want JUSTICE !!
    February 9, 2011

    Treat our nurses right ……………………….. they deserve better. Talking of treating people right, why is it that some teachers have not received their back pay as yet? Should they protest? Pay us and vex with us!!!

  75. The truth
    February 9, 2011

    You don’t need a permit to protest at your workplace. It’s against their bosses too. It’s completely different to the uwp situation. This is an employment dispute. Think about it

    • Hugo Grotius
      February 9, 2011

      Nonsense, the people employ the DLP, if we stop paying takes dem fellas cannot eat.

    • Patt
      February 9, 2011

      Where was UWP protesting..not there workplace….bias

    • truth be told
      February 9, 2011

      Whom did the UWP protest against their masters? The police? Their co-workers? Their Servants?

  76. possie massive
    February 9, 2011

    if they don’t have permit we will ensure that they are charged, but shouldn’t they be working n tending to the ill, we’ll look into that

    • disgusted
      February 9, 2011

      Based on enquiries done, all nurses present were off duty or on their break

  77. BC
    February 9, 2011

    DNo,

    Did they get a permit? Please find out…

    • KRYPTONITE
      February 9, 2011

      lol

    • labooouuurrr
      February 9, 2011

      stop that nonsense in my country,every day is a prostest,go and do allu work ,why the police no there to send you all go

  78. Ehdi
    February 9, 2011

    UNLAWFUL DEMONSTRATION!!

    ARREST THEM!!!

    • confused!!
      February 9, 2011

      now why are you saying it is unlawful and they should be arrested…

      that’s why nothing ever changes in this country. they know why they are protesting. try to find out what has exactly forced them to take such action. and who knows what protest it is? is it the kind where they are being disorderly or is it the peaceful protest where they have just refused to do any work at the APU until midday. let the nurses protest for what they feel is right. God knows the amount of foolishness which takes place under the “BOSS” they are protesting against!

      • Supporter
        February 9, 2011

        You are right! The nurses demonstrated their true professionalism. Not one patient was denied their care while they got to bring the awareness to all concerned.

        I am sure there is a background, even though the President seems to be tight-lipped, a strange phenomenon for a lady who is usually so vocal.

      • ....
        February 9, 2011

        God knows about the nonsense in parliament and UWP people are being charged… the nonsense under Gardakan (sp) but tipper truckers in trouble. So I guess the nurses will be charged too..

    • labooouuurrr
      February 9, 2011

      did they seek permission ,peacefully or not DID THEY SEEK PERMISSION<stop that PROTEST nonsense

    • me
      February 9, 2011

      nuisance

  79. mouth of the south
    February 9, 2011

    at the psych unit,,,,,, that will be some good entertainment for the mentally ill,,,

    • Chicka Ricka
      February 9, 2011

      lol, LOL

      @ Mouth of the south, u hv me cracking!!! Nice one, they will be entertained for true!!! lol

    • Dominican Abroad
      February 9, 2011

      lol, that might be good to relieve them of depression.lol

    • BC
      February 9, 2011

      I hope some of those crazy people don’t escape while this is going on!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • TORY
      February 9, 2011

      Yes boi I can imagine the patients going even more mentally ill lol, when they notice that nurse so and so who is suppose to be giving me my meds have a sign written, stop the madness! So who really mad? LOL. I can only imagine what confusion they endured trying to figure out if they were hallucianting again or if they had really lost their marbles this time. Lookj okes in DA. But IALWAYS HEARD that it have more mad folks out than in.Go figure.

  80. BORN DOMINICAN
    February 9, 2011

    DIRECTLY FROM MATT IN THE MORNING HOT SEAT…………CONFIRMED BY WHO??????????????????

    ADMIN
    Hope I do not burst your bubble. Nurses informed DNO and other media houses of the planned protest since yesterday but told us not to report until it has actually begun at about 9 to 9:30 am, which is when the first bulletin was posted. OK you do not have to smoke that in your pipe as we smoked it for you. :)

    • Mpress
      February 9, 2011

      L.M.B.O @ Admins response…..nice one.

    • Smoke them out!
      February 9, 2011

      GOOD JOB DNO ADMIN

    • yep
      February 9, 2011

      good one ADMIN LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • kayon
      February 9, 2011

      lol..lol..lol..admin you does ans them well hard..lol

    • BORN DOMINICAN
      February 9, 2011

      cant fool a multitude

      • Go do your homework
        February 9, 2011

        What exactly is your point? We learnt of the protest since last night from another media house. Please give DNO and Matt a break. Now that you have the photos, I hope you weren’t be calling for more confirmation.

    • bb
      February 9, 2011

      lol

    • Yes I
      February 9, 2011

      good response from DNO.

    • sighs
      February 9, 2011

      hahahahaha i love it…admin is d greatest!!!!

    • wow
      February 9, 2011

      lmao @ admin….that was funny as hell! :lol:

    • vbhf
      February 9, 2011

      Marpin dat was too fast, they reported it last night.

    • the East is Best
      February 9, 2011

      good come back Admin…..born dominican my ass…………lol………if is straight from Matt in the Morning…how comes DNO got live pics of the demonstration??? foolish!!

      • joely
        February 9, 2011

        he bully the junior doctors bad too and their mouth shut shut. all they do is weeep.

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