NDP slams gov’t over baby delivered in VG community centre
The revived National Democratic Party (NDP) has blasted the government over reports that a baby was recently delivered at St. Mary’s Hall on Virgin Gorda, describing the incident as a troubling reflection of the deteriorating state of healthcare in the territory.
The incident was raised during a recent NDP radio programme, where Eighth District representative Marlon Penn criticised the government for failing to properly maintain healthcare facilities, particularly the Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda.
“We make a joke about it, but it’s serious. The mismanagement of our healthcare services is serious,” Penn declared.
The lawmaker argued that the NDP made significant investments in healthcare infrastructure, including completing the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital and constructing the Iris O’Neal Medical Centre to provide quality healthcare for residents of Virgin Gorda and the sister islands.
However, he said the current administration has failed to maintain those investments. “I mean, you get it, you can’t even maintain it?” Penn questioned.
He pointed to longstanding mould problems at the Iris O’Neal Medical Centre, which have disrupted services and raised concerns about the safety of patients and healthcare workers.
“Persons have to deliver their babies in a community centre. If you want to dress a wound on VG, you have to drive to North Sound,” Penn complained.
He also criticised the government for failing to establish reliable emergency medical transportation between Tortola and the sister islands, including dedicated medical boats or aircraft.
Penn said the issue is worsened by the fact that Health Minister Vincent Wheatley also represents the Ninth District, which includes the struggling Virgin Gorda community.
The opposition legislator further questioned the government’s spending priorities, arguing that millions are being spent on extravagant initiatives while nurses continue to complain about inadequate compensation and healthcare facilities remain in poor condition. “There’s no urgency from this government,” Penn declared.
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Damn! Damn! Is this how far we have really fallen!
Baby being born in a community center. How much more worst can it get?
Man, Hon. Vincent Wheatley, you letting us down bigtime. You make us here in VG look bad. We expected better. There’s a time to work, and a time to play. Stop playing around and get to work, that is why we gave you a chance in the first place. You time now have expired. We rallying for Shereen again, coming next elections. Time Up!
@VG Massive. I can agree with you on that. His time has indeed expired. Waste of time minister.
At least the baby is blessed by St. Mary. This minister is a square peg that was placed in a round hole. Wrong ministry.
might as well stay at home and wait for the midwife like the old days
Community center, home, boat, airplane, car or just about anywhere when that time comes and you have not planned or prepared for it. Glad the mother and youth are both well as the article did not say otherwise.
As a father, would it not have been more prudent given the closure of the clinic that the expecting mother would have been on Tortola while closer to her due date? Some responsibility needs to placed at her feet as she put her life and that of her newborn child in danger. Does the clinic have all the necessary equipment and staff for births and complications should they arise?
I see someone mention here “why not have them stay in Tortola closer to the time”? As someone who nearly didn’t make it to the hospital in Tola from VG I can say this;
1) not everyone can afford to leave their home or jobs to go stay on a next island and wait.
2) sometimes babies come early and unexpectedly.
3) the government should be providing it’s people with proper medical facilities to accommodate it’s citizens. How can you place that blame on a mother?
As a father you should work on your education about childbearing and biology. You are part of the problem placing blame on the mother. Please do better for your children and community. Many unexpected things can happen in childbirth. As previously posted, not everyone has the means to go wait on another island. Additionally, having the infrastructure and a responsible government is the issue here. It should be a basic human right, but the corrupt government keeps getting voted back in. So maybe the people are getting what they deserve for constantly voting for the same crap.
Yeah I said it and mashed ayo corns – so what! Reminds me that pi$s poor planning results in – you can google the rest! So you having a child and do no pre-planning for the birth? Wow. If you’re going to your scheduled prenatal visits and there are known complications- then you should plan accordingly. If not then why are you having a child in the first place?
Having physical infrastructure in place and not the Human Resources with the requisite skills does what? You all have a clue how much a pediatric unit cost to run/maintain? Those are specialty skills and would that service be utilized frequently enough to justify the costs? Would JVD and Anegada not require the same? Plan your dang child birth – the majority of expecting mothers & fathers do!!
@VG. We can’t even use our commissioned over $1 million dollars elevator in our dilapidated Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex in Roadrown for convenience, if a similar situation had to happened here. God Blessed!
That reply was meant for low minded in the USA and not VG.@VG, We hear you, something have to give. We have to do better at the poles, this next coming elections.
Vincent you really drop the ball on this one! VG Vote him OUT!
I thought we done hit wall when that Vg resident died due to Vg medical centre being closed . …
Y’all does forget fast mehson
If you tax ain being used to benefit you then take it back thru lawsuits or matching.
We build buildings, pat ourselves on the back and forget about the operations inside the building.
As a nation we build buildings, celebrate the openings, and then forget about the services inside them. That’s not development; that’s poor governance. A hospital or medical centre is only as good as the care it can consistently provide.
The fact that a baby reportedly had to be delivered in the community centre should concern all of us, regardless of political affiliation. It speaks to a wider decline in standards that is affecting our nation, our communities, and our reputation as a world-class tourism destination.
The government deserves criticism, but let’s not pretend the opposition automatically has the answers. The NDP has governed before and should be prepared to explain what it would do differently.
Replacing Vincent is only part of the solution.
What the BVI needs is better representation, stronger accountability, and leaders who focus on delivering results, not just winning elections.
Until we demand that standard from all our elected officials, regardless of party, we risk repeating the same cycle while expecting different results.
I was born in an elevator in a mall. In the USA. How many of you were born by midwives and at home? When a child is coming it’s coming. These failed Opposition members who don’t do a stroke of work other than talk and travel at it again.
I’m happy to hear that you delivered your child healthy and sounded in an elevator, but there is no comparison.
We are but very small square miles islands, where everything is a stone thrown away from each other. We boasted about turning over billions of U.S. Dollars over the years. We spend millions of dollars building all these fancy establishments and politicians are quick to ceremonially take credit; then after, they are left to outfit and maintain themselves.
There is no way things like this should be happening. This is unacceptable!
On top of that, we pride ourselves as being a Tourist Mega. Just imagine a visiting pregnant tourist had to be subjected to such an experience, and they publicized her ordeal to the international media. We don’t want that type of
heat, especially in these uncertain economic times.
We can and must do better. It is a matter of where, the people we elect to represent us, if they truly care, place their priorities. Period!
@low minded. Corrections to, “I was born in an elevator in a mall. In the USA.” However, my position still stands. There is no comparison. In the Virgin Islands, this is unacceptable.
Well the baby born at the center. At least the baby is alive. I heard that a sick lady came at the center and could not breath and their was no oxygen to give to the person and later the lady die. So that is to say we in Virgin Gorda have to be very careful when we get sick over here.
As someone who has had to spend time in the Hospital recently, the BVI health care system is a joke!!!The systems, the techniques, the knowledge of modern medicine is all outdated and way behind the times. For a country that has a budget of 550 million dollars, it’s f**king pathetic! ALL 13 MUST GO!!! We need new people in government, not the same rotation of old corrupt f**k wits!
I understand that the clinic needs to be up and running asap but no one have control of when and where a baby is born . Some babies come with no sign of contractions or anything, . The most important thing is is a healthy baby was born .
You Damn Right. That Is Thing To Talk!!!!!
Barry Say You Will Hear!!!!!
RIP… Bucky
RIP…Mrs. B.
The new mega for the BVI make the BVI great by putting down belongers with the experience and vote politicians , board members , CEO who have no
inkling about running the health system
Support your own to the detriment of the country
This is the excellent results
Destroy your own system because of the poor mentality
This is dangerous path
Only interested in scooping dem island people to see what they do with their own money mand got together with saint Andrew and use money gram to rip them off by double taxing them and leaving their employers untouched who is already exploiting them by taking out taxes and not contributing to the government , so what do you expect from uncle Vinnie after he done throw down a couple ah cuTTy sark & Johnny walker ? / except put that tricky smile on his face , as if everything is alright – csc already got the million dollar smile , so we don’t how how much his cost .
This is forward ever? Seems like backward ever to me! VIP (very incompetent people) must go!!!
Reflections …. cause and effect is always in operation and critical tasks will may only get attention when it hits home…Public Servants are to serve the community period! PEOPLE, Use your VOTE! RID YOURSELVES of self-serving, self-seeking, pretentious people….we have been going downhill from time without beginning to those whose only interest was enlargening them selves, stealing property, illegal transactions, criminal activity is out of control, ignoring critical services for the people, choosing who is worthy of being educated and the like, and when it’s near time to step down, groom others into the same way of being….. how long? HOW LONG must this go on?.. sad to say that conditions won’t be fixed overnight and when they do, there will be background bottom feeders……SICK, EVIL,…this place has gone to the dogs..some of us run with eagles in daylight but after dark we mastermind with foxes. No real plan for the place, this way of being is outdated but yet the rich and poor come to our shores.I am sure they too are looking st this shameful state and more.
That lady still hanging on the chair should leave
My heart Breaks for what the BVI has come too, but the issue is not just VG the whole BVIHSA is in a very bad state the locals who work there are not friendly to patients, and the expatriate staff are over worked and underpaid, and the minister is allegedly out and about with his hat on giving family and close friends all the crown land he can and taking more for himself, so much corruption.
It’s a struggle living on Tortola…but atleast it’s not Virgin Gorda