Last-minute motion being introduced to rename Peebles in honour of Premier Smith
Just fewer than two months after being appointed Minister of Health, Marlon Penn is moving to use his new portfolio to have Peebles Hospital renamed in honour of Premier Dr D Orlando Smith.
According to an amended order paper of the Sixth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Third House of Assembly which starts on Tuesday, Cabinet has already accepted Penn’s recommendation.
The Health Minister will now be seeking approval from members of House via a motion.
The motion states that an unspecified hospital renaming committee selected Dr Smith in “recognition of his pioneering efforts to improve healthcare for the residents of the Virgin Islands”.
“Dr the honourable D Orlando Smith, OBE, together with his colleagues, found ingenious ways to deliver healthcare services to the people of the Territory despite the resource limitations,” Penn wrote in the motion that is yet to be introduced to the House.
Penn’s motion further notes that Dr Smith — who served in capacities such as Chief Medical Officer and Registrar of Surgery at the medical facility — received his Order of the British Empire from Her Majesty the Queen because of his years of ‘outstanding and dedicated service’ to the BVI and because he is well-respected within the local healthcare sector.
The motion concludes: “Be it resolved that the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands approves the re-naming of ‘Peebles Hospital’ to ‘Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital’ and that ‘Peebles Hospital’ be henceforth known as ‘Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital’.
This upcoming sitting could be the National Democratic Party government’s last opportunity to push their hospital-renaming agenda before the general elections where the NDP stands a one-in-five (or 20 percent) chance being voted in for a third consecutive term.
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I remember VIP doing the same sort of thing when they were about to lose power. Lots of contracts signed to force the next Governments hands. Watch out or more stuff like the airport, name changes, lots of petty contracts. Vote buying time is here. Get your hands out. Time for the regular people to cash in before the next Government starts to keep it all for themselves.
Can we name the Pier Park after the manager of the project who overspent by 40% – I can’t remember his name but if we named the park after him it would serve as a lesson in how not to manage a project for generations to come.
Maybe Beef Island airport (yes, I know we changed the name, but I can’t remember his name either) could be named after the loud mouth American who pops up every year to threaten litigation against the GOVT for millions of dollars.
And can anybody remember what the Francis Drake Highway is now called?
And let’s rename the piece of waste ground at West End the Myron Broken Promise Plot until the new ferry port is built.
Undoubtedly, Dr. Hon Premier Daniel Orlando Smith (AL) is well-deserving of having the Peebles Hospital, main hospital in BVI, renamed after him based on his stellar medical services contribution to the territory. Naming or renaming a building is a serious undertaking that should be addressed with deliberate action. This action seemed rushed and is politicizing a well-deserved honor. The Premier is deserving of the honor based on merit, ie, his medical contribution. Though he may not have anything to do with the proposal ( then again he is the Premier and should know), he leads the NDP government that is at the end of its tenure so this can be perceived as self serving. This is puttting the Premier in an awkward position, for he will have to recuse himself on the vote on the floor. With Doc having to recuse himself and D-5 vacant, the vote on the floor should be interesting. Would be surprised if it comes to the floor and there are any no votes. The Premier would be atop any list to rename Peebles. Nonetheless, wish this process was undertaken by a follow on government or better yet a bipartisan select committee should be established to rename Peebles and other facilities. The timing of ghis current action can be perceived as politcising a well-deserved honor; it can throw some shade on this deserving honour, recognition. If I were the Premier, I would defer this action to another day.
Don’t support.
Better yet, let’s just rename BVI Airlines to Orlando Air!
Let’s rename the street he lives in to 7.2 View!
Personally, I see no reason why the hospital cannot be renamed after the Premier for his contribution to medicine in the BVI as one of the first local sons to have become a locally providing surgeon, but I am certain like all other things in this neck of the woods, others will disagree.
At the same time, I must admit, I am one of those people whose heart beat does not increase a beat higher if someones’ name is plastered on a building, but I understand the symbolism.
I guess my life long experiences has shaped how I view these things. Certain things in this life just does not move me in the way it may move others.
Symbolism or not, I do however believe that the Premier, as a pioneering medical provider of the BVI, is deserving of that honor.
With that being said, may I ask bvinews how did they determine that “NDP stands a one-in-five (or 20 percent) chance being voted in for a third consecutive term.’?
What specific stat are they referencing? Is that 20% chance based on the number of political parties contesting the upcoming election that you have ascribe an equal chance to winning to each?
If so, that stat is debatable, as clearly not every political party contesting the next election has the same chance of winning and forming the next government. The NDP may do better than that %20 or even worse depending on your source of reference.
I believe that there are many credible candidates from the various parties contesting election this time around with some having a greater chance than others.
If I were a betting person, I would bet on a coalition government this time around simply based on the diversity of candidates. It’s going to be one big dog fight to the finish, and the results may be historic.
There is a great possibility that among the ultimate 13 winners, many would have won by a very small margin of votes, but I do not see an equal fight across party lines.
Anyway, the only stat that matters is what happens on election day.
Getting back to the original issue: Peebles Hospital being renamed in honour of Premier Dr D Orlando Smith. It’s alright with me even if my heartbeat is flat line.
Why name everything after NDP candidates, remember elmore stoutt high school?????
That one made my blood boil. What did he do to the school that was so significant that other principals didn’t do? It was all political.
OK, I have a few problems with this.
Firstly, this is already named after someone: Major Peebles who oversaw and built the first hospital in BVI many years ago.
Secondly, we already did this once. We renamed it (briefly) after H.R. Penn, and after a lot of people complained, they changed it back.
Thirdly, surely this is just political grandstanding – don’t we have better things to worry about?
Fourthly, the building has “PEEBLES” in giant electronic letters on the tower above the building. They going to go to the cost and expense of taking those down and replacing them? Can’t we think of something better to spend our very limited public funds on right now?
This is an insult to Major Peeples. I 100% disagree with this move and it does seem very political.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Many years ago I was doing research on the health sector of the BVI as a project at HLSCC. It so frustrating to find out that there is no information at the Ministry of Health nor the Hospital about the history of healthcare in this Territory. I had to go to the library and scan through the archived newspapers to get some information which included Major Peebles and some of the first nurses. I also got information about the first location and the building process. If we are to rename the hospital even that bit of history with Major Peebles will get lost. WHAT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR TERRITOTY??
The Premier shouldn’t be able to vote for renaming the hospital after himself. That would be a tasteless and dishonorable move. He should abstain and allow his peers to make the decision.
This is sheer political shite
Orlando Smith Médical Pavalion,Complex or Médical Center.
I disagree with this action,I think it would be more appropriate to name the surgical unit in honour of zDr Smth.The Hospital was named after Mr Peebles for a reason,I do not like renaming things,
You know when I blog and people express views that are contrary to mine, I always pay attention to them and often try to see their points of views and if convinced otherwise, amenable to even changing my views.
Your post is a perfect example of a post that has caused me to reconsider mines. I think you got it right, and have struck the right balance.
Your suggestion is a great one that honors both men without taking away from the legacy of either. Kudos to you. I like you view better than mine. I change my mind thanks to you! 🙂
And let’s not forget the how emblematic the dump is. Perhaps that would be another naming consideration.
Look, our country is broken and we have nothing to show for the 16 years that he has acted as our leader. Nothing has improved under his leadership. Consider the amount of our money that has been spent on “consultants” and shady ventures. Consider how much of our money has been overspent on public projects. Consider that the Premier refused to use standard management skills such as due diligence. Consider the fact that no one knows if he even had a plan in place to help us. Our schools, roads and entire infrastructure are in complete shambles.
Let us not forget that the hospital came in $90M over budget and then sat empty for 5 years because it wasn’t designed or build to standard codes. According to the Economist, “the deteriorating economic conditions in the British Virgin Islands were caused “not [by] sagging revenues but public-sector profligacy”, an oblique reference to the disastrous financial mismanagement of the hospital project.” (see link below)
We shouldn’t reward someone for such colossal mismanagement. Perhaps, if the govt would like to honor him perhaps, as suggested above, name an operating room or perhaps an entire floor after him.
This is a very divisive issue and will not contribute to our recovery. And the world will laugh at us if we make the wrong decision here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peebles_Hospital
The NHI is a great achievement.
It even ran almost within budget in spite of the doom merchants. And it looks viable in the future at something like the current cost.
Yes there have been problems but people should not underestimate what great step forward the NHI is.
And let’s not forget the how emblematic the dump is. Perhaps that would be another naming consideration.
Look, our country is broken and we have nothing to show for the 16 years that he has acted as our leader. Nothing has improved under his leadership. Consider the amount of our money that has been spent on “consultants” and shady ventures. Consider how much of our money has been overspent on public projects. Consider that the Premier refused to use standard management skills such as due diligence. Consider the fact that no one knows if he even had a plan in place to help us. Our schools, roads and entire infrastructure is in shambles.
Let us not forget that the hospital came in $90M over budget and then sat empty for 5 years because it wasn’t designed or build to standard codes. According to the Economist, “the deteriorating economic conditions in the British Virgin Islands were caused “not [by] sagging revenues but public-sector profligacy”, an oblique reference to the disastrous financial mismanagement of the hospital project.”
We shouldn’t reward someone for such a low return. But, if the govt would like to honor him perhaps, as suggested above, name an operating room or perhaps an entire floor after him.
This is a very divisive issue and will not contribute to our recovery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peebles_Hospital
In some countries it is forbidden to name places after living persons, but only after their deaths.
Well we are not in those countries.
INSTEAD SUGGEST DECLARE SURGICAL WARD AT PEEBLES
AS DR ORLANDO SMITH WARD
Mahinda- a BVI well wisher
If I remember correctly he serves also in OB and Medical Wards….and for some years the ONLY DOCTOR in the country. So now tell me why only the surgical ward????
Whilst I admit that the introduction of the NHI was and is a major contributor to the good quality of life in the Virgin Islands, and I do admit that the funds receive from the scheme is impressive (though still a short fall). It was still undone by the fact that he (Orlando) fail to act on the price gouging that was going on by the private medical centers after the introduction of the NHI. This indicates corruption to me.
ORLANDO IS NOT SAINT ENOUGH to deserve to have anything name after him. I am disappointed that Marlon would bring forth such high level stupidness. Let the man demit office and get lost.
This no make a darn sense renaming the hospital especially in this political rush it seems bias to me a mean y it didn’t happen years ago nice try with ur new post but I think there more things u can look into than the hospital renaming yes he has contributed tremendously and we respect dah but many ppl in society did the same and get nothing but a good name.
Lord Ayo Come on man not the whole hospital Now
F**K POLITICS!
What a fitting tribute to be given to this revered and native son who was the first of this land to become a surgeon.
Indeed, it is a joyous occassion when we can honour our own during their lifetimes, still possesing excellent mental faculties.
Congratulations, Honourable Penn for such a consideration like this.
He got no legacy so they want to rename the hospital after him
Dear Marlon, We are still waiting for the Consumer Protection laws that were listed in both NDP manifestos in 2011 and 2015. We are still waiting for the legislation in the form of a Landlord Tenancy Act to protect the rights of landlords and especially tenants listed in the 2011 manifesto. What happened to the promise to install energy efficient lightbulbs in every household within the 1st year back in 2011. I dont recall any updates on if the review to increase the payroll tax exemption to $15,000 was ever completed and the public advised of the findings. Since the promise to increase funding for the Library in 2011 we have actually regressed to the point where we have no Library at all. So many promises made and broken but the priority is to rename a hospital which already has been named in honour of someone else.
Smith should have the jail named after him. And then move in because that’s where he belongs.
No not in favor of NDP politics again. The hospital is fine as Peeples.
Was this the promise to him to keep him quite on all the corruption? Why the rush to get it done now?
Or is this to make the party feel better for killing the man career with all you guys bad mindedness?
NO NO NO leave the hospital as it is. Spend that money on fixing a school.
Why everything getting rename. Dr. Smith sorry but the hospital is already named after someone. Plus in my humble opinion that honour to you is not yet ripe…this force ripe. Please allow it to ripen. I wish Father God would intervene. Let them name Pier Park after CB Romney first.