BVIHSA CEO vacancy unfilled for over a year
Concerns have been raised in the House of Assembly over the unfilled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position at the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), which has remained vacant for more than a year.
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley provided an update on the matter after being questioned by Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn in the House of Assembly (HOA) last week. During the HOA sitting, Penn asked Minister Wheatley to explain why the BVIHSA has been without a CEO for such an extended period.
Minister Wheatley acknowledged the difficulties in filling the position despite ongoing efforts. “We made every effort to encourage individuals to apply, but it has been a challenging process,” Wheatley explained while referencing the authority’s recruitment attempts that began in 2023.
He added that multiple vacancy advertisements and recruitment notices yielded minimal responses. However, he assured the House that interviews were scheduled in hopes of resolving the issue. Penn further pressed the Minister on the delays in appointing a CEO. He noted that a recommendation for the role had been submitted to the minister in December 2023 but had yet to receive Cabinet approval.
Wheatley explained, “There were some complexities in the information provided for the CEO appointment. We had to request additional details before it could proceed to Cabinet.”
Penn also asked Wheatley why the board of the BVIHSA has been operating without a full complement of members. The minister confirmed that the board currently consists of five active members, enough to form a quorum, as the BVI Health Services Authority Act requires. He pointed out that the resignation of a board member in May 2023 had also triggered recruitment efforts to fill that vacancy. In response to questions about board meetings, Wheatley said, “To my knowledge, the board has continued to meet as scheduled.”
He committed to verifying this information with the relevant authorities and providing a further update. Meanwhile, Acting CEO Dr June Samuel has been performing dual roles as Chief Medical Officer and interim CEO, which Penn suggested could affect operational efficiency.
Wheatley responded by promising to investigate why a separate acting appointment had not been made and to provide more clarity.
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Did i hear a lie?
you mean to tell us that with SO MANY ARISTOCRATS ON THE LOOSE ON THIS HOLY LAND THAT EVEN AFTER A
WHOLE YEAR
( NUTTIN ❓️ ) WE HAVE CSC & THE OTHER 2 WANNABE HOLY MEN FROM CGB / THE
WIGGED ONE / E
LEONARD ■ ARE WE GOING TO BLAME THE UK OR THE GOVERNOR OR THE COMMISSIONER OR CINDY OR WALWYN ❓️ LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY’S DOING THE MOONWALK NOW ♀️ HEY VINNIE WAH GUINE ON BOI ?????
At this point who wants to captain that ship? Hey you all the government literally have legislation that allows the INMATES(patients) to RUN THE ASYLUM(HOSPITAL) you can’t make this s**t up.