Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Feb 25/02) - The troubled Fort Smith Health and Social Services board is getting a chief executive officer, after being without one for six months.

Dana Rasiah has accepted the post. For the past seven years he has been comptroller of the South Slave Divisional Education Council. Since the GNWT is the employer for both positions, the job switch will be handled through a transfer.

He agreed to be CEO for two years. After that time, he can return to his school board job, which will still be waiting.

That board is now looking for a temporary controller.

The health board has been plagued with problems, including a large deficit.

"Substantial troubles that go back years," were alluded to last April at a Stanton Regional Health Board meeting. One year ago, a CEO left over what he called board interference with hiring. A few months prior to that, the board's human resources officer and finance officer both resigned.

The government sent in a temporary CEO until Rick Derkash took over last spring, but he, too, lasted just a few months.