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Melville retires as Tobago medical officer
By MARISSA WILLIAMS Tobago Bureau Monday, July 27 2009
Dr Mentor Melville has retired after 12 years as the County Medical Officer of Health in Tobago, on the heels of criticism against him over the reports of swine flu cases in the island.
Melville yesterday said he felt insulted by the manner in which he was treated by senior health officials over the swine flu outbreak, where cases rose from four to 25 in June prompting the closure of Bishop?s High School.
Melville said he had officially retired on July 12 an insisted his departure had nothing to do with how he felt about the management of the swine flu outbreak in Tobago. He was however upset over being branded a ?loose cannon? for disclosing information about the cases.
Melville and other medical officials in Tobago reportedly received a gag order from the Ministry of Health in Trinidad barring them from divulging information on the spread of the swine flu or Influenza A H1N1 virus.
Mentor said he will continue his service as a medical doctor with the Tobago Regional Health Authority.