by ERIC SMITH

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's (QEH) board of directors, George Griffith, is standing his ground that there is "pilfering" at the institution.

"If the NUPW [National Union of Public Workers] and the unidentified 'angry staffers' can prove me wrong, I will unreservedly withdraw the comments, make a public apology and resign from the board," he told the DAILY NATION yesterday, in reference to an article in yesterday's DAILY NATION.

On January 19 during the call-in programme Down To Brass Tacks on Starcom Network, Griffith spoke of the problem of pilferage among other issues which have been impacting on the hospital.

On Tuesday, staff expressed concerns at Griffith's utterances and the NUPW issued a circular calling on all workers to attend a meeting next Monday at the hospital 's auditorium.

However, yesterday Griffith said: "But they cannot prove me wrong and they know it. They are simply demeaning themselves by condoning wrongdoing. Far from being wrong, there is overwhelming evidence to prove me right."

He said when he spoke of the pilfering, he was not attacking the entire staff, but rather a minority of workers who engaged in such behaviour.

"The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is fortunate to have a majority of doctors, nurses, administrative and ancillary staff who are honest, patriotic, dedicated professionals who often go beyond the call of duty to cater to the physical and emotional needs of their patients. And they are doing a great job in very difficult circumstances."

Griffith said if chief executive officer Winston Collymore so desired, "he can comment on certain discoveries in the Procurement Department and other areas too sensitive to mention at this time, but which in my view merit the attention of the Fraud Squad, but that is the CEO's call, not mine".

He added that turning a blind eye to what had been public knowledge for some time would not stop the practice but could only make it worse.

"I cannot and will not be part of any system which does not discharge its mandate without fear or favour. Someone must stand up for what is right and must challenge wrongdoing irrespective of the cost. Someone must stand up for truth, and I am he. They can have my head and guts if they like but I am standing firm," Griffith declared.