The former chief executive of the island’s health watchdog was “mercilessly fired” less than three weeks before Christmas, her husband has claimed.

Livingston Wedderburn said his wife, Tawanna Wedderburn, was sacked from the Bermuda Health Council without warning in a “night of the long knives” and questioned the motive behind the move.

Mr Wedderburn told The Royal Gazette yesterday: “I will do everything I can to get to the bottom of this.”

He added: “My whole family is upside down. Tawanna is a strong person, so she will and is dealing with this, but obviously she feels horrible.

“She’s in health, everything she does leads back to that council, so her options become highly curtailed.

“Her career for the future is seriously impaired and damaged as a result of this whole situation.”

Mr Wedderburn was speaking after his wife’s 11-year career with the Bermuda Health Council came to an end last month.

Her departure was said to be a “separation of employment” by the BHeC.

Mr Wedderburn wrote in a letter to The Royal Gazette: “Tawanna was mercilessly fired as the CEO of the Bermuda Health Council on December 7, 2018 leading to the Christmas holidays.

“The timing was clearly of strategic significance judging from the severe pressure to which she was subjected to settle the matter before the season ended.

“The reason given to her for her firing amounts to: ‘Our future plans require new leadership so here’s the 26 weeks’ maximum settlement you’d get at the Employment Tribunal. Take it before we change our minds. You have one week to decide and a few minutes to clear your things from the office.’

“With that, her almost 12 years’ service to the council ended.”

Mr Wedderburn said that his wife, who joined the council as project officer in 2007 and was chief executive for almost three years, had no idea she was about to be removed from her post.

He added: “No prior warning was provided before she arrived at work that morning and was mysteriously telephoned to meet at a restaurant.”

He claimed when Ms Wedderburn attended she was provided with a choice of two press releases — one that said she “amicably separated” from the council and the other that she resigned.

He said she accepted neither and a “downplayed deception” that outlined the “separation of employment” was released later that day.

Mr Wedderburn, who said no settlement or payment had been accepted at the conclusion of his wife’s employment with BHeC, wrote: “We are middle-aged parents of a working-class family with three children in university overseas.

“We rely upon our combined employment incomes to meet our day-to-day living expenses and to educate our children.

“By reliable accounts, Tawanna was passionate about her work, extremely competent, honest and respected.”

He added that the couple contacted their children to tell them about the situation despite the “explicit threat of imprisonment” for speaking about it and that the family home was to be put up for sale out of necessity.

Mr Wedderburn added: “I can report to those behind this that your sneak attack is devastating.

“As you can see, we remain isolated. No one has yet come publicly to Tawanna’s defence.”

He asked: “How can someone’s extensive career in such a vital capacity be so brazenly ended seemingly without regard for public scrutiny or even a warning to her, let alone giving reasons?

“Who plotted and led the charge on the night of the long knives and who appointed and/or instructed them?”

Mr Wedderburn wrote that his wife was “severely wounded, professionally blighted as a fired employee and demoralised”.

He admitted it was his decision alone to write the letter, but Ms Wedderburn, who became aware of its contents after it was sent to the media, has confirmed it was an accurate account of events.

Mr Wedderburn said the couple now had to find the cost of legal representation to fight the termination.

He wrote: “Limited resources will not prevent access to the courts.

“A judge will have the final say with the benefit of everyone’s spilt guts.

“The veil of secrecy is being removed as I write and it will be ripped to shreds until justice prevails.”

The Bermuda Health Council Act 2004 says that the chief executive officer can be terminated only with the health minister’s approval.

Ms Wedderburn said yesterday she received no warning about the end of her employment before December 7 last year.

But Kim Wilson, the health minister, was alerted the previous day.

A government spokeswoman said: “The Minister of Health received notice of the proposed separation on December 6, 2018 and approved the recommendation in accordance with section 9(1) of the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004 on December 7, 2018.

“As an employment matter, the ministry will not comment further.”

The BHeC said yesterday it was inappropriate to comment on human resources matters but thanked Ms Wedderburn for her “service and dedication”.

It added that Ricky Brathwaite was appointed as acting chief executive on December 12 with the approval of Ms Wilson.

The BHeC added: “The board is actively developing its strategic plan and looking forward to remaining focused on improving healthcare for the people of Bermuda, and is very pleased to have Dr Brathwaite on board at the helm.”

Dr Brathwaite said yesterday: “Tawanna played an invaluable role with the council for over ten years and where we are today is partly responsible to her work here.”

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, the shadow health minister, raised the “removal” of the former chief executive from her post during a House of Assembly sitting a week after it happened.

She said Ms Wedderburn had been “acutely aware of the need to control the costs of services in order to help keep the cost of insurance down”.

• On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on what we consider to be a controversial or contentious story. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers. To view the letter from Livingston Wedderburn, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”