Recently retired Chief Executive officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board Joan Dillas-Wright was yesterday named to the upper house of Parliament

The appointment of Joan Dillas-Wright was announced yesterday by Government House. Mrs. Dillas-Wright, MBE, was chosen by Governor Sir Richard Gozney, in accordance with Section 27 of the Bermuda Constitution.

The former PLP branch chairwoman has been appointed as the Independent successor to Senator Alf Oughton.

In September, Sir Richard told The Royal Gazette he would "try to ensure I put forward someone who is genuinely Independent and politically neutral".

She is currently off-Island and unavailable for comment, but Mr. Oughton said last night he was confident the new Senator would maintain an Independent stance. "I have known Joan Dillas-Wright for many years and have served on various committees with her. She served on my Healthcare Review and I've always found her to be a very sincere and knowledgeable person," said Mr. Oughton.

"I'm pleased to hear she has been appointed, and think she will do a good job in the Senate. I would be surprised if she didn't play her role as an Independent. I think it is a great appointment and I think she will do very well."

Mr. Oughton added: "She has always been a very industrious lady and so I think she will be a good addition to the group."

A nurse by profession, Mrs. Dillas-Wright is a former CEO of the Bermuda Hospitals Board and was also a chairwoman of the Progressive Labour Party's Warwick branch in 2002.

She received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours this year for services to healthcare in Bermuda The new Senator was once Director of Programmes and Administration at the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute.

She was also Director of Programmes and Support Services, responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of psychiatric care in the community.

Mrs. Dillas-Wright has also held the position of Chief Alcoholism Counsellor/Administrator at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and is a former Mental Welfare Officer. The Senate now has its full complement of five Government representatives, three Opposition members and three Independents - Senators Walwyn Hughes - the Vice-President, Carol Anne Bassett and Mrs. Dillas-Wright.