By Sue-Ann Wayow
THERE should be no conflict of interest with Principal Medical Officer Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards’ recent appointment to the Angostura Holdings Ltd board – a publicly trade alcohol producing company.
This is according to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
Dr Abdool-Richards’ Angostura appointment came into effect on November 16 and the issue was raised by Opposition Member of Parliament Rudranath Indarsingh on Sunday.
He questioned whether there would have been a conflict of interest especially as Angostura specialises in the production and sale of alcohol, consumption of which is still banned in public places as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deyalsingh was asked about the potential conflict at the ministry’s Covid-19 update on Monday. Dr Abdool-Richards was also present at the conference.
Deyalsingh said, “I have been advised that public service regulations do not debar a public officer from taking up a board appointment as long as the appointee can perform their duty and that has been advised to me by the Public Service.”
Pressed further on the question of Angostura being in the alcohol business which may not align with the Ministry of Health, Deyalsingh said Dr Abdool-Richards was given permission based on the Public Service Regulations.
The PMO is also a director on the board of the National Insurance and Property Development Company (NIPDEC).
She told the weekend newspapers that she holds an executive master of business administration (EMBA) with honours from the Arthur Lok Jack School of Business, a Master of Science in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master of Science degree in Family Medicine and an MBBS from The University of the West Indies.
Dr Abdool-Richards told the Sunday Express, “I believe that I can add value to complement the skills and experience of the existing board of directors from a diversity and inclusion standpoint. This is based on my academic qualifications, skills training and previous board experience.”
