Spencer

Trade Unionist Rudyard Spencer was surprised when he was asked by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to take over the Ministry of Health. But he is undaunted and looking forward to the challenge the health porfolio offers.

"The Ministry of Health portfolio assignment has taken quite a few people by surprise, including me. Being there now, however, there is a mountain of challenges," Spencer told The Gleaner yesterday.

Spencer has taken office at a time when the health sector is facing several challenges, including a growing number of cases of dengue fever and leptospirosis.

He said his ministry plans to embark on an intensive vector- control programme, to prevent an outbreak of dengue fever, in his first 100 days in office.

Infestation

"We have had three or four months of no new confirmed cases of malaria. But with the advent of dengue fever and all the garbage that is piled up, there has to be a concerted effort to have the place cleaned up to see how we can contain the tremendous infestation of rats, which can result in leptospirosis," Spencer said.

As it relates to the environmental aspect of his portfolio, Spencer said Prime Minister Bruce Golding was very serious about service delivery and as such, his ministry would be establishing a one-stop agency to facilitate the quick processing of applications relating to environmental and planning issues. "Because what obtains now is unacceptable," he said.

He added that concerns have been raised about the long period applicants have to wait to get a response from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

"Within those 100 days, we should be well advanced in our preparation, having this one-stop agency that will ensure that when you apply for a permit, you will get a response out of NEPA within 60 days. And, therefore, that by itself would have been a tremendous achievement,' he said.

He pointed out that there was a backlog of 146 appeal cases. "I have given instructions to wipe that off by December."

The Jamaica Labour Party has promised free health care for all by April. This has not been fully worked out as yet.

Spencer succeeds Horace Dalley.

Profile

Born Grange Hill, Westmoreland, February 3, 1944.

Educated Medgars College, Cornell University. Industrial relations.

President, Bustamante Industrial Trade Union.

Former BITU senior vice- president.

Vice-president, senior negotiating officer specialist in financial sector worker representation and negotiations.

Former Leader of Opposition Business.

Member, Caribbean Congress of Labour.

JLP Central Executive, JLP Senator 1993.

Director, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions; Chairman, Joint BITU/JLP Committee

Anglican.