Resident fumes as BVIHSA Chair reportedly smiles in crisis meeting
At a recent community meeting in Virgin Gorda, residents expressed intense frustration when BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Chairman Ron Potter reportedly appeared smiling, despite serious discussions about delays in urgent medical care on the sister island.
The incident, which drew a strong reaction from attendees, underscored broader concerns about healthcare accessibility on the island, particularly in the wake of the recent death of Revovion ‘Bucky’ Sprauve due to limited clinic hours.
One resident confronted Potter directly.
“Mr Potter, I need you to take that smile and smirk off your face please, with all due respect. Because there is nothing more disrespectful than discussing something of such drastic and urgent nature and to have the Chairman of the BVIHSA really and truly look at the way that you are exuding your body posture and your mannerisms means you are not actually here to listen to us,” the resident stated.
“And I’d honestly ask you to step outside if I was a little more rude, but I’m going to tolerate it. I just need that noted on record, please. It is extremely upsetting to come here and express opinions and watch people suffer and that is the expression on someone’s face,” the resident continued.
The resident’s comments were met with immediate applause from the community, signalling widespread agreement.
Potter did not respond to the comment, and the meeting proceeded.
The purpose of the meeting was to address key healthcare concerns, exchange ideas, and collaborate on potential solutions.
Following the recent death of Sprauve, the BVIHSA announced it was reviewing its emergency response procedures. According to a BVIHSA press release on September 2, Sprauve visited the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic on August 31 seeking medical care outside the clinic’s adjusted hours, which had been affected by Tropical Storm Ernesto. Sprauve passed away before receiving care.
In response to the incident, the clinic resumed its 24-hour service as of September 2.
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She was right to fix him. There smiling smiling like he is at a pageant.
He was smiling because they voted for incompetence and they are receiving the service they voted for. What can he do as the Chairman that the Minister is not doing?
Yes, they continue to place people in positions who are deliberately sabotaging them. Gone are the days when we can act accordingly and forget about political drama.
You cannot sabotage without funds. Go tell the minister and government to give VG some funds to fix the clinic.
Now thats a stretch to try to place blame where it is not necesarrily due.And then we wonder why we have an accountablilty problem? You dislike someone so you will find a way to place that blame.smh.
Honestly given the situation, he should have contained himself from smirking. It’s naturally him, but he should have done his best. We know he means well.
That’s how we in VG has always been shun.That smile was to go back of his f**king head,then Vincent was to be done same.Shame to hear these b**tards didn’t have answers to questions.Questions being stump made so f**king mad I had to leave
Vincent can’t answer Ronnie wife can’t and Fraser throwing attitude VG if we don’t stand Vincent willkeep kicking that can down the f**king road waste of time he is.
No wonder they call him Larry the lobster.
I do not condone any type of violence how ever, he deserved a stinging back hand slap across his mouth knocking every top and bottom teeth out. How disgusting, unprofessional and rude of this man.
If it was not for family talking me out of it this MF had coming.after the meeting.Very rude gesture then Vincent Minister of Health our district rep.sat next to him as if to say no big deal.I’ll meet you in public Mr
Potter some day and put a name to my f**king face.It just shows how we are VG has been look upon
I am so glad your family kept you from getting yourself in problems from licking somebody down. Handle it the Legal way by Filing a law suit for negligence.
I understand your anger, and you have every right to be angry. However, I think that he was smiling because they have been given 42 million a year to run health services which cost in excess of 70 million a year. The problem is really a govt mis-management problem. NHI is really a colossal failure financially and this really cannot be fixed in a meaningful way no matter what nonsense they said at that meeting, without fixing the problem that is the NHI. These people are not chi-chi-chi- chi bam bam and they can’t make a dollar out of fifty cents. However they all dare note go to that meeting and throw the politicians under the bus.
Was showing exactly who he is as a person.
How can you have an accountant as Chairman of the Health Services that knows nothing about Health Care.
How can you be the Minister of Health and know absolutely nothing about health or anything medical related.
I’m trying to figure out the same thing my damn self. I just don’t understand how you guys never saw that and spoke out about that? Haven’t you guys said to yourselves that doesn’t make sense that someone that has no medical background, no medical training, no medical experience is given a Portfolio to run the Country Health Services.Keep playing Russian Roulette with the Country Y’all. This is not personal but the Health Minister needs to step down. He is doing more harm than good as the Health Minister.
Ask yourself who gave it to him and why? it is by far the most challenging of all the Ministries.So what was the motive hmmmmmm. Dont be so gullible.And most of you palying rightinto the trap smh.
What if no elected persons are medical doctors?
The department should be run by professionals, the minister is temporary and not operational.
But everyone should be respected and respectful
How utterly disingenuous and, dare I say, hypocritical. One might recall that during the tenure of the National Democratic Party (NDP), not one, but two qualified medical doctors graced its ranks—yet neither was appointed Minister of Health. Instead, that role was given to Hon. Ronnie Skelton, a man whose medical credentials, I believe, are conspicuously absent. So, spare me the pretense of this sudden outrage.
But now—suddenly—there’s shock, shock! that the current Minister of Health is not a medical doctor. Really, spare us the theatrics. If your grievance lies with Vincent Wheatley, then by all means, say so directly. But let’s not pretend as though this arrangement is some unprecedented scandal. Kindly dispense with the charade.
Great question. This is no offence to the current office holder, but the BVIHSA continues to hire people without the requisite hospital management background to run a health care organization.
They have hired all sorts of people for this position including a so called Bishop without the necessary skill set.
It’s like hiring a plumber to fly a plane. What can one expect other than a fatal crash. In this case, people’s life’s and health is at risk.
Until the public demand accountability as they are now from the head down, nothing will change and unfortunately people will die needlessly.
Speaking of death, it’s unfortunate what happened to the gentleman in Virgin Gorda,and I express my sincere condolences to his family.
The BVIHSA needs to fix the underlying issue of availability to health services at off hours right away so that anyone having a health emergency have a fighting chance to get care even if that care does not ultimately save them.
@what???
This is what happens when you put people in positions and power based on their last name, your friends, family and popularity.
Cutting costs, cutting service, and putting the money received into the hands of those that have it all already.
Everyone on that panel, the minister and the entire BVIHSA board need to do the right thing and step down. Our health care in this day and age is a complete embarrassment. You are all incompetent.
Ron you don’t need to be around this nonsense. Let the idiots who voted for idiots enjoy their idiotic choices and way of life.
He need to learn some empathy and compassion.
If Mr.Ron don’ like the nonsense all he got to do is get out the blasted hot kitchen. Last time I check no one had him tie up with a rope in the hot kitchen. If he had act like a professional he would not be getting drag through the mud.
Did you think that was funny sir? Up there grinning his damn teeth or dentures like something was funny. Damn unprofessional non-caring bush man bu**oon in a suit and tie.
BVI the biggest clown show on earth.
Amanda can’t even have a moment of feeling Blessed and fill with gratitude. Not too many of us is capable of such feel good,inspire of the external ugliness in which
we are surrounded.Reason why BVI employees are so piggish and doing business with Gov workers is unpleasant and torturous lookin at dem face,always mek up.
Mr Potter should have ended the meeting as a result of the physical threat by that heifer and request security for future meetings.
8F1
@soursop
You talking bull
Look like you drinking stupid bush
that department needs a thorough evaluation/ overhaul , by people who are real PROFESSIONALS. we are at the MERCY OF THESE MACHINES / EQUIPMENT /THE PEOPLE WHO SERVICING THEM AND THOSE DOCTORS WHO IS LICENSED IMYO PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS , AND MOT INFORMING THE PATIENTS OD THE SIDE EFFECTS THST IS IN THE MEDICATIONS / SO WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED , all we have is set of sweet talking wannabe actors trying to make things look right and everyday we are seeing through their MASK
Put your foot down and leave it down.
Dont be fooled they would come and act and pretend they applying solution until VG calm down and then it is back to the usual BS
NO MORE I Say , no 4 king more
enough is enough,
Told y’all about these walking dead we have in the Virgin Islands once they comfortable on the plantation everything and everybody else is a joke.
Ron was/is and will never be a people person. Its like he is socially inept.
They are going to kill us all due to the lack of proper health care in this Country. So many people is dropping dead everyday in this place. They don’t even care enough to have an expert run an air quality test. So many people in the BVI is dying from cancer or developing cancer on the Island. Something is definitely wrong.
The government has a habit of employing unqualified people. This example in the health care ended up with a person loosing their life. The roads are awful, scooters are being killed on a regular frequency. Road accidents because of the poor state of the roads.
There is a culture here as this example where cooperate manslaughter chargers should be laid at the governments door. its not acceptable to keep undefunding or putting the wrong people in positions and not being held accountable.
The only thing the current health minister did during covid was steal money.
No wonder we are seeing zero improvements.
A whopping $42M is pumped into healthcare and still we can’t get it right! Incompetent Board!
Facts. cant even make a simple roster much less manage a whole system
Just my opinion and my opinion only. For that amount so many things could have been improved. Look at the deplorable conditions at the nursing home. YES DEPLORABLE, no kind of proper facility for the mental ill, open burning dump 24/7 and the list goes on and on. Someone is not good at math or someone(s) hand is deep in the fig newton cookie jar.
If I know Ron, I think that he was smiling, not for lack of empathy, but because Health Services has been given 42 million a year to run health services which cost in excess of 75 million a year. Now, even first graders will tell you that this math CANNOT add up. Look at how much they owe for electricity alone. Look how those in the medical field charge NHI for services vs how much NHI makes. It’s a lot of things at play here. I honestly believe that the Chairman was smiling because he is so annoyed and frustrated, but can’t talk all. After all, he is an accountant by profession, so he is well aware of the dire situation, but can’t do a damn thing. So instead of swearing off and throwing the Government under the bus, he is smiling to manage his stress. But I do agree that it could be taken differently. If I was him, I would resign and leave this impossible situation, because you just can’t make a dollar out of 15 cents.
This reminds me of when I gave my college age daughter $200 a month for food, laundry, transportation and other incidentals, she burst out one big laugh, but when I sat her down and showed her the math of what I was dealing with, she thanked me and said, Mommy, I will manage the best I could. So perhaps, if you understand Ron’s thought process, it is only then you will understand what is behind the smile.
Don’t allow this to go away. If your Rep is indeed for the people he will do the right thing and step down. He is not qualified for the position that he is holding. This is very serious, a man died on the steps of a Health Care Facility he went to for a medical emergency to get medical help and the facility was closed.
$42M of the taxpayers, you and I (the government) money is poured into BVI health care annually. How is that allocated within the service, how much of that money goes to salaries, maintenance, new equipment, certification and upgrading of existing equipment and recruiting new staff?
In addition to the $42M what is the amount of revenue that BVIHSA collects from NHI and sister island clinics? How often is this collected and how is this amount allocated?
How much revenue is collected from out of pocket pay, foreigners and visitors? Is there a stream of revenue collected from the pharmacy and private practices for use of lab and equipment? Is there revenue collected from out calls and out sourcing? What other streams of revenue is there?
Because the taxpayer (the government) is the main source of revenue for health services how many citizens and residents are using the service? What is the percentage ratio BVIslander to expat?
Why is there little or no education shared with the public about the services available, who are the doctors are they specialist and if so what area of medicine, how many of staff members are currently also in private practice, how many in private practice are currently holding senior positions in BVISHA, who are the senior managers,
where are they located, what services are the senior managers responsible for delivering to the community? Where are we recruiting talent from, why does it take a year to onboard new personnel?
These are the questions to ask if you are seriously interested in BVI public health care and not here because you are looking for someone to flog for your political agender.
Nice. And the answers are…….?
BVIHSA DON’T hire people, they could never find your application when you call to check on it, it takes months or they don’t call you at all and these are people that have qualifications or people that come back home. So they will always be understaff and things like this happen!
we acting like a like ya’ll SUPPRISED, uncle Vinnie % if after all that drama that went on with double taxing the island people after they done work honestly for their money and he watch them to see what they do with their own money % and and joined with the head coach on how to rip them off % so money gram was used as a front / meanwhile the EMPLOYERS who do not pay their fair share of taxes ~ ARE LEFT UNTOUCHED , AND ITS BUSINESS AS USUALL ■ if that didn’t send a message / then let me break it down gently ( when he was flexing off BON them island people , where was ya’ll VOICES ❓️ BUT NOW that he expressing herself on WE all of a sudden EVERYBODY’S VOICES CAMÉ HACK TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME hey , the man showed us who we are dealing WITH / so
it ain’t his fault if ya’ll didn’t analyze the message
So, are we to believe that the Honorable V. Wheatley, in a mere 2.5 years, is singularly accountable for all the maladies afflicting the BVIHSA? Prior to his tenure, I presume, it was functioning with immaculate precision. This, of course, is precisely why we shall forever remain susceptible to exploitation. And now, it seems, he is even to be held liable for the act of a man smiling. Quite remarkable, indeed.
I don’t hold or have anything against Vincent. I just want him to do the right thing and vacate the position. Now think about this, we are stuck for the next two years. Now watch one of the games. There is no one in the party that holds a medical degree or medical experience that can be put in Vincent spot so therefore he is going to sit in the position as Health Minister until next election. That is one of the games that is being played right in your faces. EVERY BUSH IS A MAN YOU DON’T KNOW WHO IS LISTENING. CAT LUCK IS NOT DOG LUCK.
Ronnie Skelton did not have a medical degree and he did a fair job with the Ministry of Health. The key is recognizing that you have persons in positions who are more qualified than you and you take their advice and move things along. You don’t need a degree to be the Minister of Health, you need to be empathetic and a leader.
Mr. Smiley aka grinney grinney doesn’t feel so good seeing how much he is getting called out, …
It is most unfortunate that a personal and totally uncalled for attack was made on the Chairman of BVIHSA who offered himself for service to our Territory for a piddling monthly stipend.
And now the (other) vultures, including the media, gather around for the spoil. Totally unfair to a man who is trying to make a difference among us, while so many sit back and criticise without lifting a finger.
Remember, folks, had it not been for his management and organisational skills, our Territory would have been out of current for ages after the 2017 hurricanes. I don’t know him to have an engineering degree, but with his accounting acumen and other exceptional skills he was able to bring about Phase Five that had been the subject of much talk but little action prior to his chairmanship of the BVIEC.
What a thankless society! Keep your head up, Mr. Chairman. Who know know, and who ane know would wonder.