In a formal ceremony held at Government House on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, Antigua and Barbuda’s newly appointed Midwifery Board members took their oaths of office, administered by Governor General His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams. The announcement of the new leadership panel was made official by the country’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs.
Leading the newly formed board is Dr. Kamaria DeCastro, who has been named Chairperson. Taking on the role of Deputy Chairperson is experienced nurse Patricia-Ann Clarke-Thomas. The full roster of sitting board members includes five additional nursing professionals: Nurse Jacqueline Jno-Baptiste, Nurse Laurellyn Williams, Nurse Arlea Gregory, and Nurse Wanda Samuel, alongside medical practitioner Dr. Andre Winter. A separate appointment for the Board’s Secretary position will be made by the Governor General at a future date yet to be announced.
The Midwifery Board carries core responsibility for regulating midwifery practice across the nation and upholding rigorous professional standards for the field. Its work is foundational to ensuring that all women and newborns across Antigua and Barbuda have consistent access to safe, high-quality maternity care.
Health Minister the Honourable Michael Joseph publicly welcomed the new appointees, emphasizing the strategic value of the board’s multidisciplinary composition. He noted that combining the expertise of a practicing medical doctor with that of veteran nursing professionals brings unique, complementary strengths to the board’s oversight work.
“Midwifery is an irreplaceable cornerstone of effective maternal and newborn healthcare, and this board bears a critical mandate to uphold professional standards and safe, evidence-based practice,” Minister Joseph stated during the announcement. “By pairing clinical medical perspective with on-the-ground nursing experience, we gain a balanced set of insights that will serve the board well. This collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach will strengthen coordination across healthcare teams, support more informed policy and regulatory decisions, and drive ongoing improvements in care for mothers and infants across Antigua and Barbuda.”
The Ministry of Health has confirmed it is preparing to collaborate closely with the new board members as they begin their official duties. The board’s core priorities will include advancing professional accountability for midwives, supporting continued growth and modernization of midwifery practice, and expanding access to consistent, high-quality maternal and newborn healthcare services for communities across both islands of the nation.