BELIZE CITY, Mon. Aug. 30, 2021– Last week, reports surfaced on a number of social media pages of the possible appointment of Dr. Michael Tewes as the new CEO of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). The reports prompted intense condemnation from the public, as well as unconfirmed rumors that healthcare staff at the national referral hospital had threatened to walk out in response to the appointment.
There may have been some truth in the rumors, since the KHMH, just hours after the outcry, released a statement which informed the public that “the position of CEO has not been filled.”
Just moments before, however, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Michel Chebat, had stated during an interview that Dr. Tewes, a veterinarian by profession, has extensive experience in administration, and Hon. Chebat had also noted that Tewes has served in the capacity of CEO in three different government ministries. (Of note, Dr. Tewes also served as the managing director of BAHA.)
While Minister Chebat did not provide details on the hiring processes at the KHMH, he commented that classifying Dr. Tewes as merely a vet is “shortchanging him.”
The KHMH’s application process for its vacant CEO post, which was initiated after the non-renewal of the contract of former KHMH CEO Michelle Cox-Hoare in mid-July, was closed on Friday, July 22.
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMH), in its invitation for applications, indicated that it was seeking persons who have a post-graduate degree and 5 years working experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience in a management position. It required no medical education or experience, since the role is an administrative one. Despite Dr. Tewes being a vet by profession, he does ultimately meet the requirements to serve as CEO of the KHMH.
The public and the KHMH staff, however, feared that nepotism could have possibly been at play in yet another public appointment, since there are reports which suggest that Tewes may have special connections to the KMMH board of directors.
The KHMH board, however, has denied that such an appointment was made, and stated in a release, “Whenever a suitable candidate for the post has been chosen the public will be duly notified.”
Of note, the Minister of Health and Wellness has revealed that Nurse Chandra Nisbet Cansino, the manager of Corporate and Customer Relations Services at the Social Security Board, also applied for the post of CEO at the KHMH.
Following the decision to not renew the contracts of several senior managers at the hospital, the KHMH is still seeking to fill the posts of Human Resource Manager, Financial Controller and Nursing Administrator.