The Health Services Authority will appoint a temporary chief executive officer to replace ousted Craig Brown and then look to find a permanent replacement, possibly from here in the Cayman Islands.
‘We want some responsible person there as soon as possible,’ said Minister of Health Anthony Eden.
The Canadian Mr. Brown was fired last week after just six months on the job as CEO. In March 2004, American Michael Elliott lasted only 10 months before he quit as CEO.
Mr. Eden acknowledged that the HSA could possibly have difficulties in hiring a well-qualified replacement for Mr. Brown from overseas after what has happed to the last two foreign CEOs.
‘But I see no reason now we shouldn’t start looking internally, locally,’ he said. ‘I would certainly urge it.’
Mr. Eden said he could not speak too much about Mr. Brown’s departure because the matter was subject to a possible lawsuit. In a statement to the press made last week, Mr. Brown said he would take legal action against the HSA to ‘protect those of my legal rights that have been infringed.’
One point that Mr. Eden did make, however, was that Mr. Brown was not terminated solely because of the issue of his firing former HSA Chief Operating Officer Cathy Gomez.
‘It was not only the situation with Miss Cathy,’ Mr. Eden said. ‘There were three or four things that led to the decision that was made.’
Fellow Cabinet Minister Alden McLaughlin addressed the matter of any possible settlement with Mr. Brown, who still had two-and-a-half years left on his contract.
‘The Government and HSA’s position on this is that Mr. Brown has been fairly terminated and there are to be no further payments due him,’ he said. ‘If he thinks differently and wants to pursue legal action, then so be it.’
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