New Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Board Sworn In at Government House

The reconstituted Board of Directors of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre has been officially sworn in at Government House, marking the formal beginning of a new chapter of governance for Antigua and Barbuda’s primary public hospital.

The ceremony was presided over at Government House on Friday, with ten board members taking their oaths before assuming their responsibilities as the governing body of the nation’s main referral hospital.

Health Minister the Honourable Michael Joseph welcomed the appointments, expressing confidence that the new board would provide the leadership, oversight, and strategic direction necessary to guide the SLBMC through its next phase of institutional development and patient care improvement.

The Full Board

The board comprises Dr Philmore Benjamin as Executive Chairman, Dr Edmond Mansoor as Deputy Chairman, and Martin Camacho as Secretary. The remaining members are Dr Karen Josiah, Randy Agrippa, Casmin Greene, Akeem Edwards, and Keva Dean. Kevin Silston of the Medical Benefits Scheme serves in an ex officio capacity, alongside Chief Medical Officer Dr Kamaria DeCastro.

A Hospital at a Critical Juncture

The swearing-in comes at a pivotal moment for the SLBMC. The hospital is navigating a rising chronic disease caseload, a strained budget, growing demand on emergency services, and the prolonged absence of a functioning Cancer Centre — which has forced cancer patients to travel overseas for treatment for more than three years. At the same time, the institution has been pursuing an ambitious modernisation agenda that includes the launch of an online appointment request system, mandatory Ebola preparedness training, and medication safety refresher training for nursing staff.

The new board will be expected to bring governance stability and strategic focus to an institution that is central to the health and wellbeing of every Antiguan and Barbudan. The public and the medical community will be watching to see how quickly the reconstituted body moves to address the hospital’s most pressing challenges — and whether the confidence expressed by the Health Minister at Friday’s ceremony proves well-placed.