A new Board has been installed at the Georgetown Hospital with Health Law Consultant and Attorney, 34-year-old Kesaundra Alves, being appointed as the Head of the Board. 

The last board which was headed by Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman was dissolved in November 2016, by the Health Minister at the time, Dr. George Norton. 

The new Chairperson, Kessaundra Alves, holds a Masters of Law Degree from the Dalhousie University School of Law – Canada and she has been specializing in Health Law, Ethics and Policy.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence also announced today that Dr. Holly Alexander who worked for several years and spearheaded several aspects of Public Health within the country, will also be a member of the new board. 

The other members of the new board are Dr. Ivelaw Sinclair who practices at the Fort Wellington Regional Hospital in Region Five, the Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Public Health, Collette Adams and Director of Budget, Ministry of Finance,  Sonya Roopnauth. 

The General Nursing Council will be represented by Cleopatra Barkoey who is a senior lecturer while Kemton Alexander, a Registered Nurse will be the Guyana Public Service Union’s Representative.

The Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC and the Chief Medical Officer will retain their ex-officio status.

The Health Minister expressed confidence in the new board and said the new members bring together the quality of experience and expertise that are needed to ensure development at the public hospital. 

On the appointment of a Deputy CEO of the hospital, Minister Lawrence stated that the board is expected to carry out its full mandate as prescribed within the law.

The life of the board runs from February 1, 2017-Janaury 31, 2018. On January 24, last Cabinet granted its approval of the appointees. 

Former Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton had labelled the last board a failure. Dr. Norton and the then Chairman of the board were at repeated loggerheads over decisions relating to the hospital.

At one time, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams was mandated by the Head of State to serve as a mediator between the two.  

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