Docs divided on rejoining Coalition

Publication: Daily Nation
Date: Wed, Jun 25, 1997
Page: 22A
Byline: Terry Ally

THE COUNCIL of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) is divided on whether to rejoin the Coalition of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB).

As a result, the decision would have to be taken by the general body.

President Dr. Malcolm Howitt said that last week's meeting of the council failed to reach agreement because there were different bodies of opinions.

The only consensus was to put the ball into the court of the members and a special general meeting is to be called on the matter.

However, Howitt acknowledged that traditionally, general meetings did not usually muster a quorum and though it might be an exercise in futility, the council had a responsibility to involve the membership.

"This is too big a decision not to involve the general body who, in the first place, gave us the mandate to break away from the Coalition," Howitt told the Daily Nation.

If there was no quorum, Howitt said that they would conduct a private ballot because they were determined that the members should make the decision.

No date has been set for the special general meeting, but Howitt wanted the matter dealt with in two or three months.