The Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) has strongly condemned what it calls an “Attack” on its president, Dr. Merle Clarke.
The condemnation was issued in a press release titled “Any Attack on Her is an Attack on Us All”, was posted on the Association’s Facebook page. However, the release did not clarify the specific comments or actions it was referring to.
This comes on the same day Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre announced a $15 million investment into the Owen King European Union (OKEU) Hospital during his weekly pre-cabinet press briefing. The funding decision followed discussions among government officials, hospital administrators, and the SLMDA executive.
The SLMDA’s statement appears to be connected to comments by Housing Minister Richard Frederick during a speech to the Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP) Youth Organization on August 4. Frederick criticized those he claimed were undermining the government’s healthcare efforts, though he did not directly name Dr. Clarke or the SLMDA.
“The following day, after all of that is done, a ‘zelev’ of Flambeau will write a letter undermining the work that we are doing in improving healthcare in this country,” Frederick stated. While Frederick’s remarks did not mention Dr. Clarke explicitly, the SLMDA seems to have interpreted them as a direct attack on their leadership.
Adding to the controversy, during the pre-cabinet briefing, a reporter questioned Prime Minister Pierre about derogatory comments aimed at Dr. Clarke on social media platforms associated with the SLP.
The Prime Minister distanced himself from these attacks, saying, “I don’t subscribe to that. If it’s happening, I’m not aware, but I do not subscribe to disparaging remarks about anybody.”
It remains unclear whether the SLMDA’s press release was in response to Frederick’s comments, the alleged social media posts, or both. The SLMDA maintains its support for Dr. Clarke, declaring that any attack on her is an attack on the entire association.
Source/Photo Credit: Loop St. Lucia
