Healthcare workers urged to wear black to protest interdiction of doctor who contested general election
Published:Tuesday | September 30, 2025 | 10:44 AM
Healthcare workers and well-wishers of the sector have been urged to wear black tomorrow October 1, in support of Dr Aujae Dixon, a junior resident at May Pen Hospital in Clarendon, who was interdicted by the Southern Regional Health Authority for running as a candidate in the September 3 general elections.
A letter, obtained by The Gleaner last night, urged all uniformed groups to wear black or something black in support of the doctor who has been based at the hospital for the last eight years.
It also threatened “go-slow”, accepting only emergencies at the hospital if he is not reinstated by October 6.
The letter, headlined “Stand Up for Dr Dixon, Stand Up for Justice”, call for individuals to bombard the hospital with calls, and also to send emails of support.
“Dr Aujae Dixon, as you all know, ran to represent his community in the 2025 elections. Whether you support his party or not, what we all know is that Dr Dixon has always stood up for his fellow doctors and health workers whether to hospital leadership or to the relevant union. He never denied service to others based on politics.
"He gives freely of his time to his community and some of us may have helped him in his free medicals. He is a fierce advocate and one of the best doctors that Paediatrics and May Pen Hospital has to offer,” the letter read in part.
The letter asserts that the disciplinary action is an act of victimisation which seeks to destroy his reputation and put a strain on his financial situation.
“Those in charge have now placed him on interdiction (suspension from duties) to destroy his reputation and squeeze him financially by cutting off his income. This is an act of victimisation against a doctor who has never had any disciplinary matters against him; that treats patients and people in general with respect and dignity,” it read.
It then urged workers to stand in solidarity.
“Healthcare workers and well-wishers, if you stand in solidarity with Dr Dixon wear black starting Wednesday, October 1, 2025. If you are a uniformed group, wear a black ribbon, black headband… anything black. If they refuse to reinstate him to his job by Monday, October 6, 2025, we will begin to go-slow in all departments except for emergencies. This is not just a call to action for doctors— it is a call to action for every level of staff and every patient… If you are coming for clinic, for admission, for visiting and this message crosses you and you, stand with Dr Dixon, wear black,” it stated.
The letter also noted that the hospital is already short-staffed, and especially the paediatric ward where Dixon served.
“The hospital is already short-staffed, the children ward where he served with distinction is short-staffed. Let those in charge know that if an overworked doctor falls ill it is on them. Let them know that if a baby or child dies as a result of political victimisation of a doctor with nearly 10 years experience, it is on them,” the letter said.
“Elections are over. One party won, the other lost, the country accepts. Time come to choose patients over politics.”
Dixon was notified by a letter dated September 16 that he was interdicted after his participation in the general elections contravened Public Sector Staff Orders Section 4.2.6 (1), which bars such workers from expressly participating in politics in any elections at any level.
He was interdicted under Staff Orders 10.7 “in order to carry out further investigations.”
The interdiction notice bears the signature of Nicolette Thomas-Edwards, director human resource management and development at the Southern Regional Health Authority, to which he is employed.
The body operates on policy directives from the Ministry of Health.
Dixon is also paid by the government.
It informed Dixon, the losing People’s National Party candidate for Clarendon North Central, that he was interdicted as at September 17.
The letter also told him not to leave the island without permission from the regional director.
However, case law from Barbados and St Kitts has established that the interdiction clause is unconstitutional, and that position is backed by legal opinions in Jamaica.
Yesterday’s investigation hearing with regional authority did not take place.
The reasons could not be ascertained.
However, following the publication of the story on Sunday, he said he was overwhelmed with calls of support from his colleagues across the island and that his union, the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA), is aware of the situation.
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