Sacked SWRHA CEO hired as CEO of Tobago RHA

Paula Chester-Cumberbatch

The woman who was fired as Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) last year has a new job in the Trinidad & Tobago health sector.

Health Minister Fuad Khan announced on Tuesday that Paula Chester-Cumberbatch will be the new CEO of the Tobago Regional Health authority (TRHA) and will immediately begin planning for the opening of the new Scarborough Hospital.

The SWRHA dismissed Chester-Cumberbatch in March last year over her delay in serving suspension notices to five doctors who were involved in the case of Crystal Ramsumair, who died after a C-section at the San fernando general Hospital.

Khan's predecessor, Therese Baptiste-Cornelis, had ordered the suspension of the doctors.

Read the story: South West Regional Health Authority fires CEO

Chester-Cumberbatch threatened to sue. However Khan intervened and instructed the SWRHA to pay her gratuity and nine months salary at $23,000 per month. He also assigned her to the North-Central Regional Health Authority to prepare a draft plan for improvement of public health facilities in the eastern region.

“Mrs Chester-Cumberbatch will be the CEO of the Tobago Regional Health Authority for two years, having completed her assignment in the North-Central Regional Health Authority,” Khan told local media, noting that her two-year assignment begins immediately.

He added that she will take charge of ensuring the Scarborough hospital is up and ready for commissioning by Easter by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.