And leading that unit will be Dr Julio Sabido. He is expected to be confirmed as the Ministry's third CEO in a month. He is a junior medical officer but his ascension to that most senior post had been rumored from before the Cabinet shuffle which sent Michel Chebat packing.
And, now it is all but confirmed. Bernard wouldn't drop the name today - but when pressed - he didn't deny it either:
Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
"We have already been looking at a doctor, a male doctor that is to be on board. I can tell you that by tomorrow we will be able to finalize the CEO position. I can tell you that I believe the person that we are getting has the knowledge of the ministry, knows the run around. Everybody has their own management style, but what I am trying to do is whoever is the CEO, that person has to come in to be able to build morale amongst the staff, to build comradery, but at the same time to develop the respect for each other."
Reporter
"Would that person be Dr. Sabido, because you reference someone who knows the ministry well, but he was also considered someone who was very close to the minister and I am not sure if it is him. There are question there in relation to jumping other people to get to that CEO position which is also considered a political position."
Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
"We are selecting a CEO also requires the input of the prime minister. We have to give him that and of course myself as the minister has an input. I feel that by the time we looked at the possible individuals that we wanted to bring in, I needed somebody that already knows the in and out of this ministry, somebody who is technical as well that can provide some decisions, guidance so that we can work together and in deed while Dr. Sabido is one of the persons that we have been communicating with and more likely will be finalized as the CEO. I can tell you that I am prepared to work with any and everybody."
And while Dr Sabido has Minister' Bernard's confidence - like we said he is a Junior medical officer - and his sudden ascension - as well as the confidence the former minister Chebat had in him is expected to create some friction within the Ministry. Notably, he has never held a post in a supervisory or administrative capacity in the public service.
And, outside the Ministry, he could also to run into some resistance form the medical establishment due to his lack of seniority.
