Difficulty to fill THRA vacancies

The two-year term of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) expired on Sunday, August 10, and health officials on the island are now moving expeditiously to have a new board appointed.

THA Secretary for Health, Cynthia Alfred, indicated however that they were finding it a bit difficult to locate a qualified doctor and nurse to fill two of the major positions on the board. These positions were previously held by Dr Edmund Michael and Nurse Shirley Superville. Secretary Alfred stated that there were several specifications with respect to the composition of the board, one of which states that a doctor or nurse who had been associated with or employed by the RHA cannot function on the board except he/she had resigned or retired for a minimum of three years from that position.

“You can imagine the situation that puts us in because persons, retired persons, (qualified) persons who would have left their places of employment are unable to sit on the board because many of them have not yet reached the three years.” Alfred explains. The Health Secretary noted that a list of names for the TRHA board for the new term should be completed and submitted to the relevant authorities in Trinidad for approval by today. However, the current CEO of the board, Ynolde Seetahall, will administrate in the board’s absence until the process to appoint a new board is complete.