Seniors denied 5-day programme despite budget allocation
Plans to expand the East End/Long Look Community Senior Programme to five days a week have hit a roadblock despite funds being allocated in the 2025 budget.
This is according to a recent exchange in the House of Assembly between Health Minister Vincent Wheatley and Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn.
During the sitting, Penn questioned why the programme had not yet been expanded as promised. “Funds were allocated and budgeted in the 2025 budget to make this a reality,” Penn stated.
However, Wheatley explained that while money had been set aside for staffing, it was insufficient to fully implement the five-day schedule.
“The funds allocated to the social development programme were for staffing and have therefore been utilised to procure a cook and a cleaner to assign to the East End/Long Look Community Senior Programme,” Wheatley said. He added that the government plans to increase the programme’s operation incrementally, with the first phase set to start in September 2025, expanding from two to three days a week.
Penn pushed back, noting that both he and Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, the Seventh District Representative, had requested and received a specific financial breakdown during Standing Finance Committee meetings. “We sat in Standing Finance and we asked a very specific question… We were given a figure in terms of all that was needed financially. That money was budgeted,” Penn argued.
Wheatley admitted that the programme had not received all the funds necessary to operate five days a week. “We just didn’t get the money… The funds that we were given were only enough for the staffing,” he explained.
Penn pressed the Minister for details on the shortfall, questioning why the programme’s expansion was delayed until September despite assurances that the required budget had been approved. Wheatley, however, was unable to provide a specific figure. “I’ll have to get back to you on what the difference is. I don’t have it on me,” he said.
The senior programme provides a space for elderly residents to socialise and receive care services. Residents in the East End/Long Look area had previously raised concerns about the limited availability of the programme, pushing for an expansion to a full five-day service.
Penn made it clear that he intends to follow up on the issue, telling Wheatley, “I’ll be back in a couple of weeks, as you said”.
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All right – let’s do some simple “figuring out” because it is clear that actual mathematics is far above and beyond the capabilities of anyone in this government.
The place is open 2 days a week.
You wrote a budget that was supposed to open the place for 5 days a week.
But the budget only allows you to open for 1 additional day and then not until the end of Q4.
You were supposed to provide 156 days (52 weeks x 3 days) and you have money for 16 days (16 weeks x 1 day).
Simple “figuring out” shows that this lot could not even count to 21 if they had sandals on and their fly was unzipped.
Dumbest humans ever.
Money gone to fill the $20Million dollar gap that we have no information about and likely never will. A little more will have gone into the airport fund to pay the truck and barge friends who are lined up to push dirt into the sea for the airport which has not been decided upon yet. We may have to take the 2 days they have off them to pay for the Port Facility at West End so it is not looking food for the “respected” elders of our nation.
I reading this properly? they saying the money to expand this program was specifically detailed and requested, it was approved and put in the budget specifically for that purpose now it not happening until September and only opening one day extra instead of three? This the lamest government ever I swear; nothing they cant do properly but they want self determination.
Where and when is the Senior Center open in East End/Long Look? Does Road Town have a Senior Center and if so when is it open and where is it? We have a plethora of Senior Citizens in Tortola that could participate in every District. Come on stop cheating Seniors our of Senior Centers and their meager Social Security pmts. We need a place to go and play games, learn new handicrafts like basket making or share about our vegetable and fruit growing techniques. And so much more fun and enjoyment can be had if Seniors can have a place to meet not to far from home. Please fix this problem ASAP. Seniors are not getting any younger and need to be encouraged to get together. Who is in charge of arranging Senior Centers in the BVI?
If they don’t care for the seniors of the country who they will care for other than themselves.
I bet it had enough budget for their salary increases, benefits, trips and parties.
Is high time the senior programs throughout the country be restored and stop making hurricane and pandemic a excuse. If we can’t do nothing for nobody, let us do something to enhance the lives of those who have laid the foundation for us. We too going get old and the generation below us going treat us the same way we treating our elders
@sickening, dem set ah younger educated SB we put to manage our affairs!
Is the British Virgin Islands making fun of the elderly? Is this some kind of sick and sadistic joke on online media? What kind of inhumane people do we have living in the British Virgin Islands using online media for all of this human rights violation which has become totally out of hand and totally unacceptable in terms of human rights.
They do not care abort the seniors or the inmates in prison. They are full of s**t.
not hit a road block, it ran into a thiefing pot hole tower rock bolder.
How is he allowed to be minister of finance?
How??
Add insult to injury, he is one of the district reps that asked for the expansion. He is the minister responsible for finance and he sat there and said nothing because he knows where the money has gone to.
We have a concert next month. Money needed to get the grounds by Pier Park ready. After a sponsorship of $250k they must provide a venue for use.
Perhaps the question to ask is if his 1st cousin, the FS, is up to the task after his stroke? Short fall of $20m now this. How many other errors have been made?
It had enough money for Vybz Kartel tho.
Hire me! I will pressure dem
This government is taking advantage of the most vulnerable in the society, OUR ELDERS. The people on whose shoulders this territory were biilt on are the invisible and forgotten segment of society. What a shame.
MEANWHILE, there is NO programme for seniors on ANY of the SISTER ISLANDS!
Let’s talk about THAT!