Antigua’s Ministry of Health has placed Dominican-born Dr. Griffin Benjamin, the director of Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital, under suspension, effectively removing him from his responsibilities after nine months in the role.
Reports from Antigua.news indicated that currently, a restrictive travel order has also been issued, preventing him from leaving Antigua and Barbuda without prior written approval. This comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this week that the doctor had been placed on leave. The Permanent Secretary’s communication appears to serve as a preliminary assessment rather than a formal conclusion.
The directive reportedly instructs Dr. Benjamin to cease all official activities, avoid entering government health facilities, and return all keys, documents, and property associated with the institution. The video story explained that the measures are currently described as precautionary, emphasizing that they are part of a fact-finding process and do not constitute an official finding of misconduct.
This action reportedly follows a formal complaint related to the detention of an AUA student at Clairview Psychiatric Hospital from August 15 to 28, along with other purported concerns regarding Dr. Benjamin’s conduct. The incident involved a magistrate ordering the young woman’s transfer to the hospital for 14 days of medical supervision due to mental health issues; she was held for 12 days before discharge.
The core issue, according to the ministry, centers on allegations that Dr. Benjamin administered a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication outside the approved government formulary and without following proper procurement procedures. Furthermore, there are claims that patients were charged $150 for the medication outside official systems.
While the ministry asserts these steps are temporary and precautionary, the language used in their communication has raised questions about the severity of the allegations. Dr. Benjamin, contacted for comment by Antigua.news, expressed his readiness to resume his duties and continue the transformation efforts at Clairview.
He stated that upon receiving the suspension notice, he promptly held a meeting with his clinical team to inform them of the situation. Currently, Dr. Benjamin says, he is enjoying his leave of absence, spending time in Antigua’s scenic beaches.
Benjamin was reportedly known for being “a prominent voice on mental health policy, men’s wellbeing, and service reform in the Eastern Caribbean,” says Dompedia.
Having served in the capacity of Consultant Psychiatrist for the Ministry of Health and head of the Acute Psychiatric Unit at Dominica’s Princess Margaret Hospital, he relocated to Antigua & Barbuda earlier this year to head the twin islands’ Clarevue psychiatric facility.
Find link (with video) here:
Clown hush your mouth… you’re too illiterate….
Remember once when a family took some sort of action or complained against him for issues concerning their family? there is already a strike against him and the countless others.
Dominica had not devolved this much to deal with these people who seems to think they can fo as they please.
@Ibo France. Read the article again. He not only served here but was the Head of APU until retirement. In fact our government is very lenient with our doctors here. In St. Lucia doctors have buy insurance against possible malpractice legal issues.
I had a bad experience …… My father who alcohol related psychotic issues walked in the hospital on his 11 brought out paralysised after getting injected at the APU. WORSE end up dying of sepsis (bed sores) at the hospital. Whatever he is being suspended in Antigua, I doubt if that would happen in Dominica
All you do is run your blue useless mouth,that is getting you no where.You know nothing about Dr.Benjamin when he was employed in Dominica.In Dominica this man was a UWP political puppet,playing blue politics at the hospital.He once said Prime Minister Skerrit was mad,because he thought UWP would win the 2019 election.The man is corrupt.
It’s a sticky situation. Dominican doctors are being deed an opportunity to practise in their homeland. Inevitably, they have to carry their expertise abroad. Many times they are subjected to discrimination and embarrassment.
The main medical facility in Dominica needs the services that these doctors have to offer. Yet, they are rejected. What irony! No wonder more Dominicans live outside than within.