Bernard on C.E.O. for Minister of Health & Wellness

With shortages of equipment and other supplies in the Ministry’s hospitals and clinics, Minister Bernard told News Five there will be many areas under review, and he hopes to work closely with the new C.E.O., who ever that may be.

Kevin Bernard,

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“I have to take a look at what is lacking in terms of resources, whether it is medical supplies or whether it is equipment needed in the various hospitals, whether it is human resources, capacity-building, training, customer service matters that are related. All of these things fall under services that we deliver to our citizens and our general public and so I have to take a deeper look at all of these things, but definitely, my priority is to ensure that we could make much use of the resources we have but to also look forward to making them even better to be able to provide a better service to the citizens of Belize. We’re going to try to find the best fit for C.E.O. in this Ministry. Whoever it is that we choose, my goal is to ensure that we carry that ship together, and we work hand in hand to ensure that there’s effective leadership at the head, but at the same time, effective management throughout the Ministry.”

Marion Ali

“Sir you were the Prime Minister’s favoured one – you were his pick – does this bring about any kind of rift, conflict between you and the now former Minister?”

Kevin Bernard

“I can tell you absolutely not! In fact, immediately after the Prime Minister met with me and made the decision, I reached out to Minister Chebat, who at the time was on a call. He returned my call and we are scheduled to meet tomorrow after Cabinet and we will go through the things – there are many success stories that we could point to at the Ministry of Health that Minister Chebat has done and we’re going to look at what was there and what are some of the things he feels as well need to be strengthened and challenges he may have faced. So there’s no such thing. We are very good colleagues. Myself and Minister Chebat work very closely when I was the Minister of Sports and similarly we will continue to work together.”