The House of Representatives has greenlighted the name-change of Mount St.
John’s Medical Centre to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.
Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph introduced the bill affecting the name change
for the institution, while making it clear that the rights and privileges of the
employees of the institution remain intact.
“This amendment to the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre Act, 2009, is aimed at
effecting the official change of the name of the institution from the MSJMC to the
Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. It brings an end to the secondment of public
officers working at the institution and to make certain provisions for the welfare of
the seconded public officers going forward,” Sir Molwyn said.
The health minister reaffirmed the decision to rename the institution as an honour
to the man who was instrumental in having the facility built in the first place. The
Act also provides for a change in the name of the administrative board to the Sir
Lester Bird Medical Centre Board.
Sir Molwyn Joseph also noted that the new Act will usher in a pension scheme for
the institution along the lines of the government’s own pension scheme. “Let me
explain that those persons seconded to the hospital are working without a pension
scheme of the hospital. The pension scheme that governs them is the civil service
pension plan. We want to correct that so that the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre
will have its own pension scheme. The scheme will be managed by the board,” he
further explained.
Under the Act, all properties of MSJMC will now be turned over to the SLBMC.
“This means that all rights, interest and liabilities should be in the name of the Sir
Lester Bird Medical Centre,” he added.
As it relates to the staff and the several issues that affect them, the health minister
told the House of Representatives that there were discussions between the board
and the staff and that the provisions that were being brought to parliament reflect
the outcome of those discussions.
According to Sir Molwyn the secondment of the staff will come to an end on
September 30, 2023. “Unless otherwise stated, the years of service of seconded
public officers prior to the ending of the secondment shall be carried forward and
count as service rendered to the SLBMC, should the employee continue in the
service of the SLBMC,” he stated.
He emphasized that there will be no loss of service for the staff at the hospital.
Additionally, those staff members who wish not to be transferred to the hospital,
may return to the government service without loss of rights, position or privileges.
