“Any Attack On Her Is An Attack On Us All!”

The Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) has condemned what it described as ‘baseless attacks’ against its President, Dr. Merle Clarke. Clarke recently wrote a strongly-worded letter to the board of the Owen King European Union Hospital (OKEUH) on behalf of the hospital’s physicians. The letter, which found its way onto social media, complained about conditions at the medical institution However, at a recent meeting of the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Castries Central MP Richard Frederick highlighted the Government’s efforts to address the OKEUH’s problems. Frederick, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, also took the SLMDA President to task, suggesting Dr. Clarke was in cahoots with the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) to undermine the Government’s efforts. While not mentioning the Minister, an SLMDA statement on Monday noted that the SLMDA President had been the target of personal attacks and character assassination for fulfilling the very responsibilities entrusted to her by association members. “In her effort on our behalf to highlight and seek intervention for serious issues within our public health system, she has been wrongfully accused of political affiliations and misuse of her position,” the SLMDA statement said. “The SLMDA unequivocally condemns these baseless accusations...