Bernard Responds to Scepticism About New C.E.O.

For almost two months, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been operating without a C.E.O., after Doctor Deysi Mendez was terminated from the post in late November.  Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie had been acting in the position, signing off of documents and other matters. With Doctor Lesbia Guerra refusing to take up the post, on Friday Doctor Julio Sabido was appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, under Kevin Bernard. But, there are sceptics who believe that Doctor Sabido does not have the requisite experience or is too junior an officer. Likening himself to a similar criticism, here’s how Minister Bernard responds to the assertion.

Kevin Bernard

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“While there may be that scepticism as you say out there, I mean the same thing people may say about me – I am not a doctor and why am I the Minister of Health? But it is not about that. While Doctor Sabido who has a vast amount of experience in the health system; he has been in the ministry for some time, he knows the running around in terms of the ministry. His role now, apart from when he was a technical person, his role now is more administrative and the function of the C.E.O. is administrative. We must both depend on the technical people that will guide the decisions of the ministry. There is separation of powers, as they say; yo have to know what your role is. And that’s the direction that I want to ensure that happen. I can’t go to the doctor and say this is what I want you to do. I am not a doctor. They are the ones that have to guide the policies and the processes of every unit that we govern at the Ministry of Health.  So the C.E.O. plays a very critical role. Yes, he is the accounting officer; he has to make sure that what is being spent is being spent properly and the oversight comes with the minister as well. So, we set the policy as government, they execute the work, the technical people makes the decision that best trickles down to the improvement of services to our citizens.”