ABOUT
Dr. Ingrid Ann Buffonge is presently the Minister of Education, Health, and Social Services on Montserrat, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean with a population of approximately 4,300, an island significantly affected by volcanic eruptions 30 years ago and significantly affected by migration and isolation. A physician with 26 years of experience, she is deeply committed to strengthening public health, education, and social welfare systems to better serve all residents of the island.
Current Roles – As Minister, Dr. Buffonge oversees three critical portfolios—Health, Education, and Social Services—with a vision for inclusive, equitable, and
modern service delivery. Her priorities in health include: Addressing NCDS and their complications as these account for 70% of deaths, improving medical evacuation through local policy and protocols and an MOU with neighboring tertiary centres, advocating for early cancer diagnosis through enhanced screening
programmes and improved diagnostic ability and is presently working towards implementing both a cancer screening registry and a cancer incidence registry, updating and strengthening health policy and legislation to ensure current practices reflect global best standards and ensuring long term impact.
In Social Services she has pushed for changes to improve access to healthcare for non-nationals, has promoted child and adult safeguarding through a new board and new policy, pushing for the enhancement quality of life for older persons and ensuring the provision of social support for those who cannot adequately help themselves. In Education her initiatives are directed towards developing a robust special education needs programme with a modern staffing structure, expanding technical and vocational programmes with regional certification, expanding efforts to improve literacy, and numeracy rates, welcoming aspects of digitalization of education, modernizing streaming policies, improving awareness on how to access tertiary education and addressing teacher retention.
Previous Experience – Dr Ingrid Buffonge served as a Parliamentarian and Member of the Opposition from 2014 to 2019. During this time, she was instrumental in
debates and advocacy for the health sector, which led to key developments such as the acquisition of the islands first CT scanner, the establishment of a critical care unit for on Montserrat, free glaucoma eye-drops for older persons, and free prostate cancer medications on island. During her medical career spanning of 26 years she has practiced on Montserrat and in the United Kingdom and has managed and practiced at a private medical practice on Montserrat.
Personal Background – Dr Buffonge, now a mother of 4, was born and raised on the island of Montserrat. Her mother Catherine Elton had travelled to Montserrat in the 1960s as a voluntary nurse where she met and married Dr Buffonge’s father Edward Buffonge, a happy union that has stood the test of time. Dr Buffonge notes that her parents have been her grounding and have had a strong influence on her career choice and value system.
Dr. Ingrid Buffonge believes that quality healthcare, accessible and modern education, and access to social care led by compassion are fundamental rights and essential pillars in creating resilience and sustainable economic development.