Hospital CEO Gone

Hon Gilbert McLean	Eloise Reid	Michael Elliott

Monday, April 5, 2004

Chief Executive Officer Michael Elliott left employment of the Health Services Authority (HSA) last Wednesday, although the circumstances of his departure remained a mystery through press time.

As of last Friday evening, Minster of Health Services, the Hon Gilbert McLean, was only in a position to confirm that Mr Elliott had in fact left the HSA as of 31 March and that Deputy Director of Health Services Eloise Reid had been appointed Acting CEO.

Reports have indicated that Mr Elliott’s office at the hospital has had a second lock put on the door, although it is uncertain if this occurred before or after he left the Island last Wednesday.

Mr Elliott’s departure had been widely-speculated on ever since his wife Billy left her position as Marketing Director with the HSA in February. Mrs Elliott told Cayman Net News at the time that she had “retired,” but she also said that she had business opportunities in Miami.

Contacted about the rumours of his departure last month, Mr Elliott only said, “I’m still here. I’m a fighter.”

A former Executive Director of University of Miami, Jackson Health Systems in Florida, Mr Elliott was appointed to the newly-created post last 16 June. Sources indicated that he had signed a three-year, $1.3 million contract to take the job, making him the highest paid public employee.

He defended his salary in an interview with Cayman Net News last November by saying that his pay here was comparable to what he was receiving in the United States, and that he had turned down a position making considerable more in the US to come here instead.

The HSA has experienced a good deal of turnover in its executive over the past year, starting with the resignation of former Chairman Kel Thompson, followed by the appointment an Acting Chairman Andrea Bryan before United Democratic Party Executive Member Steve Scott took over as Chairman.

Former Managing Director Lewis Ebanks was asked to stay on after Mr Thompson’s resignation, and then departed the HSA’s employment for reasons unknown before his extended term was complete.

Although numerous attempts to obtain more detailed information concerning Mr Elliott’s departure were unsuccessful, Mr Scott told Cayman Net News on Friday that a comprehensive statement was forthcoming.

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