Premier to look into reports of lack of medical equipment at AO Shirley
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley said he will take a look into why the medical room at the AO Shirley Recreational Grounds in Road Town is yet to be outfitted with proper equipment since being constructed more than a decade ago.
The Premier was only informed of the situation by a member of the local media during his last one-on-one press conference. He was also told that officials made numerous promises to outfit the room over the years.
Dr Wheatley was further advised to visit the facility and speak with various coaches to get a proper assessment of the situation athletes face regarding proper rehabilitation after training or injury.
The Premier expressed his concerns and said he would try his best to ensure athletes have proper personnel and facilities to perform at their optimum best.
“I certainly will [look into the medical room]. You know, I too would be concerned about that because of course, you know anything can happen on the track. We want to make sure that you have the facilities necessary to get the proper treatment if needed,” Dr Wheatley said.
No team physiotherapist at international championship
The Premier was also informed that the two-member athletic team that went to the World Championships did not have physiotherapy on hand. Dr Wheatley was further told that Commonwealth Games and NACAC Games Champion, Kyron McMaster required treatment before his event and the BVI’s team had to rely on another country to assist him. He clipped his hamstring in the opening round and was eventually pulled from the semi-finals of the 400-metre hurdles event at the World Champs.
While the Premier agreed it was not feasible for athletes to attend championships without proper personnel, he said he hoped the money collected from the money service levy could help to rectify the problem.
“I’m hopeful that the money that he’s now made available to the money services – I think the fund has somewhere around $6 million or something like that divided into different categories. So, out of that money, we should be able to find some to be able to properly fund having the physiotherapist, the psychologist, the masseuse. Whatever it is, we should be able to find the money to be able to do that for those trips,” Dr Wheatley stated.
“If there is a challenge, then the Minister of Sports, the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Youth Affairs and Sports, the President of the Athletics Association or somebody can come to me; can make known to me and I certainly will help however I can,” he added.
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I doubt they have adequate medical equipment in the schools, public offices, or anywhere else for that matter. Same applies to private businesses as well. Safety has never been a priority here!
Yea right! What happen to the Pavilion with all the trimmings that he promised to build years ago? Anybody who has faith in this so called Premier need to have their head examined.
How on earth is this the Premier’s business? If it needs to be a ministerial question, get the Sports minister to do it. But really, with all the crises in this place, why is ANY politician spending their time on this? I’m not saying there shouldnt be medical equipment at AOSG, I’m saying it shouldnt be for ministers
1. No money have been put into sports and it’s affairs for years.
2. Youth and Sports Affairs clearly not addressing what they should be. Who’s monitoring then and holding them accountable. What do they do with their allocation – only Gen Y?
3. We need to get serious about sports especially with how well our athletes are doing.
This dude is a lunatic or what? You were the subject minister and you don’t have a clue what was/is going on under your former portfolio!?!? C’mon now man; you can’t make this stuff up even if you had Hollywood best sitcom writers on it. Tell me about the pavilion and the lights!! Explain why the bleachers/stadium seating is not covered now extended!!!
I hope the voters in the East have garnered a few braincells in the last few years to see past you and the others currently running/ruining the country. Just like Smurf – loads of hot air and nothing substantial.
Isn’t installing ac in the Sports Complex investment into sports?
He was the sports minister and he didn’t know? We in trouble
With Mr Karon moving big again, we here talking bout medical equipment for the field for the athletes. Remember that we killed the cricket grounds (where we could hold great matches like the Busta cup classics) when Mr Crabbe made his greatest performance because he was Kendrick P’s friend, and then mark threw in the complex which had shortened the north eastern boundaries.
Yes all good but much damage to public activities.
So hear this now, one says good but another says better. Do we have sufficient medical equipment in our main government Hospital as yet or do we keep going up to Med-he-cure for all services then cruising back to the place where the Government don’t want to put up its propper name.
Please show and tell me about this unity.
It doesn’t have medical equipment at the HOSPITAL, so this is no surprise. When a patient have to source their own supplies, it says a lot about a country with a such a large budget.
This article is one-started with a lie. This particular topic was addressed with the minister in January of 2020 when a particular person trained in the field had a meet with him to outline the needs of sports and how he was willing to advice and offer his service for free. The minister said yes but that was as far as it went, as the person walked out the door I am sure the YES walked out the door too because two years after and nothing happen but now claiming he now knows about the needs.