–Ramsammy appointed new chairman board of directors
Former Chief-of-staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Rtd, George Lewis has been replaced as the Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and replaced by Robbie Rambarran who was appointed to the post of deputy CEO as soon as the PPP/C took office back in 2020.
In a press release announcing the new board of directors of the public hospital, the Ministry of Health listed Mr. Rambarran as the CEO. It is unclear whether Lewis was fired or his contract ended and was not renewed. When the PPP/C took office it fired a number of top public servants perceived to be political appointees of the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government.
Lewis was first appointed as deputy CEO back in 2017 and later promoted to CEO when the coalition government terminated the contract of the then CEO, Michael Khan. Lewis who served as Chief-of-staff for about six months before his retirement holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Guyana in Public Management and a Master of Science Degree from the Central Michigan University in Human Resources Management. At the time of his appointment he was hailed as possessing qualifications in Project Management and Conflict Resolution.
Meanwhile, the GPHC also announced that a new Board of Directors has been appointed with effect from January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2022. The board is being chaired by Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Health. Ramsammy is a former minister of health. The Board, which will serve for a period of one year until December 31st, 2022, held its first meeting on Wednesday January 5th, 2022 at the GPHC Boardroom. The other members of the Board are: Mr. Harryram Parmessar, Chartered Accountant, Parmesar Accountants; Malcolm Watkins, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi, Head of Neurosurgery at GPHC, representing the Guyana Medical Association; Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey, Director of Medical and Professional Services, GPHC (ex-officio member); Mr. Robbie Rambarran, Chief Executive Officer, GPHC (ex-officio member); Dr. Emanuel Cummings, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Engagement, University of Guyana, representing UG; Ms. Cleopatra Barkoye, representing the Guyana Nurses Association; Ms. Dawn Gardener, representing the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and Ms. Verna Adrian, representing the Ministry of Finance.
