New Health Authority Board members named
(CNS): Government continued its overhaul of boards this week with the appointment of the Health Services Authority Board. Albert Anderson has been appointed the chair with Jonathan Tibbetts his deputy chair. Existing Board member Wanda Ebanks will continue in her role as legal advisor, while Ryan Walrond also retains his position as IT representative. Karie Bergstrom has been appointed as the board’s human resources representative and Baron Jacob will be the board’s accountant. Dr Ruthlyn Pomares is the board’s medical expert. In a release from the HSA Health Minister Osbourne Bodden said the new board was “a very competent group of individuals” .
“I’m very excited at the prospect of us working together to improve our health services in this country and finding the best way forward for the HSA at this time,” he said. “This is an extremely active time for Cayman’s medical industry and medical tourism is on the rise; hence these are interesting times to re-shape and guide our future plans.”
Bodden said the government would continue in its quest to bring affordable and accessible healthcare to residents of the Cayman Islands. “Overseas health care is very expensive and we have to seek to improve our local offerings to reduce this,” he added
Having every confidence in the newly created HSA board, Bodden said he and his ministry looked forward to working alongside the board to meet the goals.
Thanking the outgoing board for their hard work in charting a sustainable path forward for Cayman’s healthcare, he said the new team was would build on their efforts.
HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said that healthcare globally was at a crucial juncture, and all countries were trying to balance the medical needs of their populations with skyrocketing healthcare costs. However, she said she had every faith that the new board would help the Cayman Islands deal with this difficult balancing act.
Meanwhile, according to the government Gazettes, the Central Planning Authority Board has also been reshuffled but AL Thompson has been re-appointed as chairman with Robert Selkirk Watler, Jr appointed as the new deputy chair. Members include Ray Hydes, Rex Miller and Eldon Rankin, who have all been re-appointed, with new members Fred Whittaker, Dalkieth Bothwell, AshtonBodden, Sharon Roulstone, Trent McCoy, Joseph Coe, Selvin Richardson and ST Bodden.
Category: Health
Its a pity that boards are selected according to where you put your vote, as there are so many intelligent and folks who love their Country that are able to represent us.
As I have seen the coments of the last few months directed to the choices for the various boards. There seems to be very few coments stating that the various nominees are incompetent. Rather that they are known to members of cabinet. I would think that any government would want to have people serve who they have confidence in. To state that someone is a fellow service club member of a minister and some how that is wrong, is unsavory. Personally I don't care if a person is known to the government or not. Only that the person is someone that has the ability to serve ably in the position that they were placed in.
Boards are unnecessary other than to provide some patronage to political allies. A brave premier would get rid of the board system. But we don't have a brave premier.
Maybe 06.59, however if there is to be a Board for Control of CIG bank accounts I, without a thought of the dangers to my body or soul, would like to volunteer!!
Jonathan Tibbetts – another one of Moses' loyal henchmen.
Jonathan a Henchmen? Wow some strong politically motivated comments!!!! If he is one-half as passionate on the Health Board as he would be on Education Council then the community is getting a great person with him as Deputy Chairman. Tired of hearing all the negatives, Caymanians need to spend more time working together and quit trying to fight against one another!!! Sign Me, Caymerican on the Brac
I'm sure Jonathan's actions with the board will prove that he is a worthy choice. I know for a fact that after the last government removed him from Education Council he still fought for every student who needed assistance. We can only expect good things from this board.
A family member or co-worker, I assume?
I'm certain it was anyone who needed assitance.
I'm lost. Caymanian cannot find jobs according to government. But yet still these appointed Boards are getting bigger and bigger. I think its time the government lose someof these people and employ Caymanians at the lower levels and use the money to train them since some are under qualified. I dont know if that much people is needed on the board. I'm confused. I'm so sorry for some Caymanians. They blame expats and they failed to see that its there own who are neglecting them. Its sad. Very sad.
Appointments to Boards is not an employment position. This is mostly voluntarily with a nominal fee paid per meeting. Therefore the appointments on Boards is not taking away employment positions from Caymanians. What needs to happen is that THIS Board needs to set policies with the support of the Minister to Caymanise the HSA. There are too many foreign nationals holding non-specialist positions, including administrative positions that could easily be filled by Caymanians.
@ 08:59. You are led to beleieve that Boards do not get a salary. If you know how Boards are set up. Then allow me to refresh your mind a little that a Board can be executive or non-executive which comprises of independent members. You have 1 tier Biard and two tier board. Now do a bit a reserach and tell me which board of directors are "seriously not paid"?. Thanks
I don't know which world you are livin in 11:45 but this is not about a board of directors. The reference is to politically appointed boards such as Work Permit Board, Such boards are NOT paid salaries. They are given a small stipen at the end of each month.
What planet are you from? These are statutory boards not corporate boards.
A more pertinent concern would be why the administrative govt has to rely on volunteers to do the work of the nation when we spend $600,000,000 on 6,000 civil servants who sit around doing what exactly???
Many of the Civil Servants specialise in doing "sweet FA". I have know idea what the "FA" stands for, but it must be important and they are very good at it.
Considering how much a member is paid on each Board and how much money is spent on food for them (yes, YOU, the taxpayer feeds these people) this amount of money would be around the same amount each month that an Executive Officer makes in salary. And that is for each Board. Look at CPA alone. 2 to 4 meetings a month. Each member gets a full meal at each meeting. Pay is $100 each. You do the math. And that's only one Board.
I would have thought that the HSA would already have had a Human Resources Manager, an IT Manager, a Legal Representative, and an Accountant already employed. Why then is it necesary to appoint these positions to its Board of Directors? And how in the world can an appiontment be made to the Board as a Medical Expert? Is not the HSA already employing enough of these? We simply have to STOP this sort of Board appointments where the Board assumes the responsibility for day to day management instead of dealing the more important issues of issuing and monitoring policies. I thought that this level of mentality ended on 22 May to tell you the truth. Very, very dissapointed with this approach. PPM can do much better!!!
Totally agree.
Okay, so maybe the returning Board Members will STOP the conflict of interest? XXXX
Yes. The current CTO IT Manager at the HSA owns an IT firm that supplies services to the hospital?
As for HR, maybe the new Board can review the 2012/2013 applications as we keep hearing that Human Resources are biased and not adhering to the CI Immigration Law?
There is smoke, can the new Board put out the fire?
Yes, boards need to not 'assume the responsibility for day to day management'. But, in order to 'issue and monitor policies' you need people ont he board who know what they're talking about. So its no good apointing most CNS posters to monitor a policy on brain surgery. You want a doctor on the board. And given the HSA's problems with IT, that apointment makes sense. And they have a lot of staff, and historic top-level staff problems, so again that 'post' makes sense. And a laywer probably doesn't hurt on the board of an entity where bad policies could easily see them getting sued. Remember, itsnot that each of these individuals act as a Chief-X-officer for their area of expertise, its that when the board looks at an HSA policy and someon wonders "is this right?" they have an independent (non-HSA) board member who can provide some insight off-the-cuff to help them all assess the legwork done by the HSA staff. For example, a new contract for a new computer system to manage doctor billing and leave time as well as medical records. Every member of the board would look at such a contract differently, before the Board gave their informed aproval to the HSA-staff-created proposal.
Hope they try keep the Immigration Appeal Tribunal as it is. Good Chairman and good group of people. They listened when I was involved in a matter and could prove it. One more job a Caymanian got.
Vendors or contractors – who cares as long as they are competent and can understand and interpet the law. It is far better to have these persons on the board rather than a bunch of incompetents who have no idea how to build or the law
AL T. I thought he was McKeeva's guy
He is a PIP man. Party In Power.
Next stop Liqour Licensing Board
The Chairman of the LC Board has served this Board in a very Professional manner for the past years. We dont have another as knowledgeable as he. I get sick of hearing such unkind remarks. Not to mention the Secretary who does a fantastic job. She can always be seen out at the various places observing the managing of these premises. Not many Secretarys would be doing such. I have have had the priveledge in having to deal with them and they are most professional .
The HSA chairman – nothing against him– is a fellow Lion of Ozzie's. Central Planning Authority Board now has Vendors/contractors as both Chair and Deputy Chair. So no conflict of interest there…………….er…….
A.A. also used to work for LIME in a very senior position for 25yrs ahving been educated by LIME from the bottom up. He and a bunch of others were let go this year.
Maybe he just needed a job and "asked" a friend seeing as its near impossible to get a position a the top of the Totem Pole for anyone who is Caymanian?
Slightly different conflict than say A.A. owning a medical supply business that contracts with the hopsital don't you think? (refernce at D.A. and CAA Board).
And the Lions Club is all about helping is it not?
How many people on the island doesn't know a number of people? Not even Jesus Christ pleased people, didn't they crucify him too. Criticism 101.
Wait until you hear what Kurt got planned, no pun intended
challenge on small island to get folks who know enough about a subject to contribute, can donate their time and do not appear to have some conflict…does not help putting a teacher on the Planning board…or a contractor on the HSA. We only hope they do what is protocol and excuse themselves if a true conflict arises with an aplication or decision.
It has always been that way. Few environmentalist are appointed by any Government.