Ron Potter appointed as Moleto Smith axed as BVIHSA Chair
The government has decided to remove Moleto Smith, Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), with immediate effect, and appoint a new chairperson in his stead.
A decision document of the Cabinet’s March 8 meeting indicated that Cabinet decided to appoint Ron Potter, a former chairman of the BVI Electricity Corporation, to chair the BVIHSA’s board.
Potter’s tenure as chairman will be for the next three years, subject to approval of the House of Assembly.
It is not immediately clear why Smith was not made to complete his three-year contract which was not scheduled to end until July 2024. But, Cabinet indicated that he was stripped of his chairmanship “in accordance with Schedule 1 3(1) of the BVI Health Services Authority Act 2004“.
Under that section of the legislation, the Minister of Health may remove a board member of the BVIHSA if the minister is satisfied that the board member has been absent from three consecutive meetings without consent, becomes disqualified from being appointed as a member, becomes unable or unfit to discharge his duties as a member, or is in breach of any condition imposed upon their appointment.
In the meantime, Cabinet also approved the appointment of Kishelle Blaize-Cameron as Deputy Chairman of the BVIHSA. It also approved the appointment of Rosetta Crandall and Tashel Martin Jackson as members of the BVIHSA Board; all for three years effective March 2023.
The Chairman of the BVIHSA will be given a stipend of $1,000 monthly while the Deputy Chairman and other board members will receive monthly remuneration of $600 and $500, respectively.
Another Cabinet decision on the BVIHSA during that meeting was the appointment of Dr Dierdra Wheatley-Peters to the post of Human Resources Manager for a period of three years on the terms presented by the BVIHSA Board.
Potter’s tenure as chairman will be for the next three years, subject to approval of the House of Assembly.
It is not immediately clear why Smith was not made to complete his three-year contract which was not scheduled to end until July 2024. But, Cabinet indicated that he was stripped of his chairmanship “in accordance with Schedule 1 3(1) of the BVI Health Services Authority Act 2004“.
Under that section of the legislation, the Minister of Health may remove a board member of the BVIHSA if the minister is satisfied that the board member has been absent from three consecutive meetings without consent, becomes disqualified from being appointed as a member, becomes unable or unfit to discharge his duties as a member, or is in breach of any condition imposed upon their appointment.
In the meantime, Cabinet also approved the appointment of Kishelle Blaize-Cameron as Deputy Chairman of the BVIHSA. It also approved the appointment of Rosetta Crandall and Tashel Martin Jackson as members of the BVIHSA Board; all for three years effective March 2023.
The Chairman of the BVIHSA will be given a stipend of $1,000 monthly while the Deputy Chairman and other board members will receive monthly remuneration of $600 and $500, respectively.
Another Cabinet decision on the BVIHSA during that meeting was the appointment of Dr Dierdra Wheatley-Peters to the post of Human Resources Manager for a period of three years on the terms presented by the BVIHSA Board.
