Gov’t dropped the ball on VG healthcare — Levons
Former political candidate Coy Levons has criticised the government’s handling of healthcare issues in Virgin Gorda following the tragic death of resident Revovion ‘Bucky’ Sprauve.
Levons expressed concern that the island’s healthcare system has not met the needs of its residents and pressed for immediate changes.
At a recent community meeting, Levons pointed to long-standing issues within Virgin Gorda’s healthcare infrastructure. “I think as a Representative, you have a duty of care to ensure the safety and the lives of the people,” Levons said while addressing Health Minister Vincent Wheatley.
He continued: “While I am a man that doesn’t like confusion, I have to look you in your face and tell you, you dropped the ball on this one, my friend. You dropped the ball.”
Levons stressed that Virgin Gorda needs more accountability and argued that decisions regarding the island’s healthcare system are often made without sufficient local input. “We’re not allowed to make decisions for ourselves,” he stated.
“Where is your priority in terms of hiring people? Now, I know we operate with limited resources, but you can’t allocate a budget and put everybody in the same pool because the risk factor for each particular island is different,” Levons argued.
Levons urged the government to evaluate the situation and fix the problems, noting that officials are often reactive instead of proactive. “A situation happens and then we put a mechanism in place, but we have to be proactive. Our ability to be able to at least see problems [is crucial]. But the only way that you can see a problem is if you sit down and look at the risk,” he argued.
The meeting also addressed operational challenges at the Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre, the island’s primary healthcare facility. The centre has struggled with staffing shortages, with residents raising concerns about the lack of available doctors and critical services, such as X-rays and emergency care.
He urged the government to mitigate healthcare risks and place greater priority on the sister islands. “You can’t put the mitigation if you don’t have a level of priority and you need to prioritise the outer islands because they’re more at risk especially when you have facilities that are inadequate to do the work and have staff on the ground that is not present,” he stated.
Levons also pleaded with fellow residents to demand more from the government. “We must stop being like the Arawaks and become like the Carib Indians and stand as one people,” he said.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Once again – talk, talk, talk, as we watch and listen to another ‘wanna be’ politician without a plan, and no proposed solutions!
Can’t even get change on his own island, let alone come across the sea to talk to us on VG.
How can you say that and you never give him a chance. Vincent had no plan and you put him in, not once but twice. Levons accomplished alot in his career tenure and I am sure he has great plans in store for D9. He will stand and fight for what is needed for the district.
The guy gave his solution. What were you listening to? Seems like you are paid to just blog.
Don’t bite the hand that feed you!
Ask Cindy and she will tell you!
Ask Myron and he still asking, “It reach cabinet yet?!”
But wait! Who VIP politicians feeding? Look at each of them individually. Take N for example. Before election he had a broken down old car. He had a pay as you go telephone. He lived in [a] basement. Now he is building a house. You think he could have done that without being government?
Myron should have been Premier and is the only one fit to be Premier. Seems like Myron is the only one with with any type of sense. Best Education Minister we have had by far.
But don’t bring Myron to be Premier again. Don’t be told I told you so.
A testament that they do victimize
It is sad that Mr. Sprauve had to lose his life in the manner that he did due to negligence and incompetence on the BVI Government. Heads need to roll. The family of Mr. Sprauve is within their rights to file a major lawsuit against the BVI Government.
A lot of people are family when money is abundant or the potential for abundance is in view. Most will drive pass their siblings walking, but sense a windfall at death, especially if it’s believed that government was incompetent or negligent. Undoubtedly government needs to do better. Just a thought, isn’t the government caring for her older brother?
Go and do your homework, the home is not free.
Healthcare on the sister islands, especially on the smaller sister islands, has always not been top billing. It was by the grace of God that they survived and are surviving. Other bloggers, including my cuz E. Leonard,hsve noted that healthcare should be the number 1 national priority. It is not. The Health ministry should be led by a health professional with experience. The BVI is victim of the Westminster system of government. Healthcare is a dog that no member wants, so it just pawned to someone no experience, technical or professional management, etc. The BVI has a health crisis , someone lost their life perhaps due to gross negligence and no one should suffer that fate again. Consequently, we need to robustly act on addressing the crisis. What happened to Mr. R. Sprauve was a medical atomic bomb dropping on VG, sending shockwaves throughout the territory. The Premier needs to call a stand down to address this crisis and avoid it from growing into a hyper-crisis.
Our healthcare is not a victim of the Westminster system, it is a victim of the incompetence, greed and lack of wherewithall by the people placed in power who are not smart or wise enough to know the first step as to what to do. We are our own worst enemy and love to sit and pass on the blame instead of being accountable for our own actions or lack thereof.
I have experienced healthcare in the UK and although it is not 5-star, I have been treated with dignity and compassion during a serious ailment. Living far out in the countryside, a nurse does home visits several times a week and I have follow-ups. Looking at it from the outside, I would have thought I had to be white to get that kind of respect and treatment. None of these nurses or doctors knew me before, I had no one to call to give me preferential treatment as you need to have in the BVI. We must do better
To @Cu, Members are elected to the HoA through a first pass the pole plurality popularity contest. Government is formed from who is elected through this contest, resulting in Peter Principle ( I learnt this term from my Cuz E. Leonard), ie promoting people to a level of incompetence. The leader of government must play the hand dealt the best he/she can, putting round pegs in square holes. The minister of health may not have in-depth experience in healthcare management but must least have the basics. Under the Presidential system for example, presidents, governors, etc, have the option of picking non/elected person with healthcare management experience to lead health. The same applies to public works, education, finance, utilities ( water, sewage, telecommunications, gas), social services, etc. let’s face it health is as f..k up as Hogans Goat . Given that a serious health emergency could occur in microsecond, why would any sane, responsible, minister would allow a clinic to close at 5;00 clock or what ever time it closed? The Minister Health may claim ignorance that he did not know but in management one has to should the blame , take blows for the things you do, along with the things that one should have done but didn’t do. It is that ultimate responsibility thing.
Cuz, school call in and you holding class on snippets of political science and management science. Impressive. Indeed, the Westminster system is a majoretanian system which promotes the Peter Principle and a government can generally pass any piece of legislation it wants, for collective responsibility is normally expected; it also has unilateral power through assent power. On the other hand in some presidential systems, ie, US, etc, the minority can stifle the will of the majority.
The NDP had two medical doctors, yet neither was appointed to lead the Health Ministry. Instead, Hon. R. Skelton was given the role. So why haven’t you been advocating for a health professional to head the ministry prior to? And what if none are elected—what happens then?
If this had happened under the NDP government the could have been the same. Get your head out of the sand. Unless it happens to yours you never feel the pain I guess.
blah blah blah but still dint answer the question , because when its someone you ok with then all is good.
@When….., probably neither Dr. Smith nor Dr. Pickering avoided health like the plague for perhaps two reasons, viz, a) health is a dog and smart people avoid it, b) they wanted to continue practicing medicine and being in charge of health would be a conflict of interest.
@When, real talk!!! You on point that is exactly why neither of them wanted health. They selfish, for this either you want to serve the people or you don’t. They want it both ways, having their cake and eating it too. Once you decide to run for public office you must be committed full time.
Levons, this is my problem with BVI people. I know you don’ like confusion but this approach is what lead us to this madness in our Territory. At that meeting you should’ve stood up and told the voters, “THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU VOTE F**KRY!”. Vincent and VIP campaigned with noise and no plans, you and your party had plans, ideas, vision and they still didn’t support you. Stick with the people and come back to represent them but don’t let them off the hook for their short-sighted ways that lead to this mess. Further, I’m sure most of them who were making a set of noise in there were outside hugging up the rep after the meeting. BVI full of fake f**kers who just love attention. Keep fighting the good fight brother, you seem to be a promising/genuine one!
Pls STOP the capping and get to work !
too much chatting
Levon’s needs to go and establish the Civil aviation department properly. Do the job the same government paying him to do.
what can he really do if the government does not make funds available . you the Dept of finance is not letting up money so people could do their jobs
Ask him what is he doing as Director of Civil Aviation. He was doing nothing in that position before the election now he get back he old job to collect a check for doing nothing! Lol
He working from home as they say. Nothing getting done.
What happened in VG could just as easily have happened in any of the sister islands. The government just has a line item of $ 42 million for health care. That there is no apportionment for each island is problematic to say the least.