Is Administrative Leave an Attack on the Reputation of DHS Dr. Manzanero?

Marvin Manzanero

Void aside, the Association of Public Service Senior Managers says that the government is attacking the reputation of Doctor Marvin Manzanero, who for the greater part of 2020 was the Ministry of Health’s public face of the fight against the pandemic. Yet, according to a letter issued to the DHS on Tuesday, allegations of misconduct are being levelled against him for not agreeing to use the services of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority for PCR testing back in April 2020.  The letter says that his failure contributed to the number of people who died as a result of COVID-19. Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer, who is president of the A.P.S.S.M., says she if blame is to be assigned, there is plenty to go around. 

Sharon Frazer

Sharon Frazer, President, A.P.S.S.M.

“As far as the COVID-19 response is concerned, there was a national oversight committee so Doctor Manzanero wasn’t making decisions, as far as I am aware. Every week, there were decisions coming out of the oversight committee that was co-chaired by the then prime minister and the now prime minister so that it was them that committee that was making decisions. So is it that now this blame that is being placed on Doctor Manzanero, are we going to overreach now to go for the co-chairs of the oversight committee and blame them as well for the deaths because they were the ones who were making decisions? So it concerns me. I am not sure if the decision makers are considering the long reaching effect that their decisions are having, will have. Okay so it is that they maybe, I don’t know, but based on everything I am seeing, did not want to work with Doctor Manzanero, but does that mean because he refuse to step down, you are going to spoil his reputation, you’re going to build a case against him. And even if it is that he did not accept, this would have happened in April. He would have been acting as DHS for an on behalf of the Government of Belize.”