Smith reaching out to donors to help fix medical deficiencies on VG
Deputy Premier Territorial At-Large Representative Lorna Smith has indicated that she is seeking benefactors to help address the healthcare issues affecting Virgin Gorda.
Residents expressed concerns about delays in accessing urgent medical care since a tragic incident involving the death of Virgin Gorda resident Revovion Sprauve, who passed away on August 31 after reportedly being denied timely access to medical services at the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic due to reduced hours.
“I am very concerned about the medical deficiencies on Virgin Gorda and have been working behind the scenes to reach out to potential donors to assist with the most urgent needs,” said while speaking to BVI News this week.
Her statements follow criticism about the absence of the Territorial At-Large Representatives at a community meeting in Virgin Gorda, where residents voiced their concerns about the sister island’s healthcare issues.
Smith and Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton have cited prior travel commitments to the UK as the reason for their absence.
“On the same day as the meeting, I was en route to London for a previously planned series of meetings with the new government, the Financial Services industry, among others,” Smith explained, emphasising her concerns about the healthcare issues on the sister island.
Skelton noted that he had to leave for London the day after the meeting, suggesting that preparations for that trip prevented him from attending. However, he mentioned that he “looked at some of the meeting online.”
Skelton did not provide further comment.
BVI News also reached out to the other two At-Large Representatives—Education Minister Sharie de Castro, who is currently attending the 9th Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Joint Council for Ministers meeting in St Kitts from September 9 to September 14, and Deputy Speaker Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather. Our news centre did not receive a response up to publication time.
The meeting, held last Saturday, September 7, addressed critical issues affecting Virgin Gorda residents, including healthcare services, infrastructure, and community well-being. Health Minister Vincent Wheatley was the only elected official present to hear the concerns of the Virgin Gorda community.
The absence of these Territorial At-Large Representatives at the meeting sparked criticism from local commentator Elvin Grant, who labeled their non-attendance a “travesty.”
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Always got their hand out for benefactors…
I thought that begging was unlawful in the BVI – but our politicians seem to think that it is ok to beg foreigners – especially if they are white!
I ain’t even studying Delilah. She only trying to save her skin for next election but she will be a one termer. What ever became of her failed trip to Guyana and all the promises of returns? But she jump on other people responsibilities
What VG needs is for you and your colleagues to put the resources of the country in the right places such as health care so that the hospital could be properly staffed and have good facilities. When you support the 20M dollar mistake from Natalio and support all his other wasting of the government resources you are not helping VG. You are helping yourself because you prefer power than anything else. Get away from here with this gimmick. You are an opportunist. I want my vote back. Stop using this death as a way to get VG votes. Do the right thing in government.
BVIHSA problem is systemic and not a one off situation. This tells us how much she knows about what’s going on. All she is seeing is a way to gain t some quick political points with the VG people. This problem requires a sustainable approach with the proper funding and a government who provides proper strategic directions for the development of healthcare.
I saw Ronnie Skelton traveling from Tortola on Sunday. Wasn’t the meeting on Saturday in VG? What untruth these people telling?
READ AGAIN
That’s what he said he was travelling the next day don’t you guys read
So if the Hon Lady looking for handouts government must be broke having spent everything on airfares!
Instead of asking people to give money to the government ( which we already do in taxes) just you all stop flying all over the world first class all the way and use that money for something important and useful.
this country is and has been running on AUTO PILOT
no governor
no premier
no deputy premier
no education minister
no deputy speaker
no health minister
so what we elect them to do TRAVE L and talk rubbish
Your lack of comprehension leaves a lot to be desired.
Read again and see if you can understand the explanation Hon. Skelton gave.
Is the pin up picture of VI’a favourite drug lord off the wall yet?
With all the money you and your brothers investing and building and ri**ing off people and opening all these businesses smartly in each other names use some of those money to fix the clinic vg and the money your primier use to hold big worthless party go back for it you all have your priorities backwards never proactive only put things in place after tge fact and want people to dig in their pocket to help you all after all you do is raping people
So you want a donation to have a hospital?
What happens when that money runs out and you still have not budgeted for a hospital in Virgin Gorda??
Clearly no idea how to run a government here. We need 24/7 care (clearly having office hours to be sick in Virgin Gorda doesn’t work).
Budget for an emergency room. Trauma care. Nurse or Dr. on staff on the island somewhere. This school nurse setup is a joke.
donate? i need yall to donate all the money in the budget for travelling..
i need yall to take that money yall found for music fest and greedy bill and donate it.
The money that was paid out to andrew while he drag out his resignation use that.
The money yall took from SSB to build a project for low earning citizens and not evens the lowest can afford. take that and donate.
see those grants yalll gave out to fake fishers and farmers and those sham contracts with still no signs of getting those funds back? use those to donate
yall does do pure nonsense with he tax dollars then asking people to donate.
i have no problems with donations but if you taking we tax money and using it for everything else but improving the country then asking people to donate to fix things in the country then yall gone star made crazyy
just wow
Really?!?!?!?? You all want independence but still begging? Well Jesus peace. Have you all no shame? Can’t even get a clinic up and running but want independence. Lord help me get up off the floor.
..are the benefactors. We already donated. Where is the money paid into the system going? Show us the budget.
The BVI Government is the people’s business, but it is also clearly a failing business. Nobody in their right mind invests in a failing business unless there is evidence of a change in their way of doing business or a change in the market. So which one is it? Since you have your hand out, where is the change allegedly coming from this time? I’m not hearing it. A Minister of Trade should know these things.
Now we know that 0% of the $ 42 million allocated to health services goes to Virgin Gorda forcing this glorified begging because the govt can’t or won’t do its job.
Why, Why Why Lord, Why?
We should not be looking handouts from our wealthy friends. They pay their share of property taxes and other income tax just like everyone else. If I had to work and save a couple million dollars, it isn’t for the government. Yes, I would be helping the genuinely poor as I do now without looking for a photo op.
Madam deputy premier, please send us the notice where youall seek funding for flying all over the world. You find the money to jump from plane to jet, but can’t find the money to run the health system. Consider having zoom meetings instead of every minute taking an all expense paid trip here and there.
I am just so tired of all of you
They’ve pissed away all the tax dollars so now they’re asking for donations. U.K. NOW !
Ronnie is rich he can help
Seems that the BVI needs to beg to get things done. Beg, eat , prey..
When you was backing sloman with his party you didn’t consider the needs of the country nor VG so just go from here with this bull.You looking for hand out but it’s something for something from those you are looking for
The now major immigrant population is of the least,lesser and the less.My how they show off dem crime and dem acquired poverty.
Deliberate design for the unlawful financial benefit of VI’s larcenous and greedy selected bunch.
Sufferation more and more on the horizon.
No longer will there be neigborhoods as neighbors (VIslanders)leave and only hoods remain
What a travesty, eventhough intended.
A mortal sin actually!
” Throwing your pearls to pigs”
..tsk tsk
Invest.,YES
Infest ..No
…
Infest..No
We also had to beg for money to equip Peebles because whoever was in charge of the expansion project, which ended up costing almost double the originally bid $ 62 million, forgot (or did not know to) that you don’t just build a hospital. You have to commission it.
It’s also absurd that here the government is looking for donations but they won’t pass on the greedy bill. Two years worth of salary (something like $ 70k) for 13 elected representatives works out to about $ 1.8 million.
Putting out the tin cup, stretching out the hand begging for pity is not the answer to VG or other BVI locales medical needs. At best , it is very temporary. What is needed is a well-thought out, structured, funded, long -term, etc., plan. And government must take the lead in developing, fleshing out and rolling out and sustaining, etc the PLAN. That is why it elected, does it not? It was not elected to dress to come to work to rest. It was not elected dwell in the power, status, influence, self-interests, etc but to deliver services in the public interest. Businesses, individuals, giving back is welcome but it should not be the game plan to get from point A to point B. We need an A-Z plan.
“Lorna Smith has indicated that she is seeking benefactors to help address the healthcare issues affecting Virgin Gorda”.
My god woman that’s your responsibility as a leader of our government to use our resources properly so we don’t waste our funds on parties and VIP travel!!
How truly pathetic.
Exactly what they said they would do if they got elected. Wow oh wow.
Others normal people would be in jail all now.
It is also not right or fair for some to wake daily wth such information in ourheads and can o nothing aboutit.
It is similar to a thief coming into your house, but you are unable to stop him.
Why do you think that they give those groupings of politically-minded men and woman the name PARTY, as in the case of the V * PARTY?
Cause that’s what they do best.
I read the article and the blogs. Tue conclusion of this matter is that this government are clueless. They can come back to the bloggers foe the solution because the people obviously know the way forward
How about the private clinics charging as much as they want to NHI that private insurance just isnt accepted anymore? Or Ministers getting greedy money (thats at least 2 family members)
The money your government spends to fund an unsuccessful music festival could have been used to help in that area. You are putting all the blame on Mr. Potter when you know very well that it’s beyond him. The same representative for the ninth electoral district is also the minister responsible for our healthcare system. Cut back on all that travel and stop burdening taxpayers with added expenses. Most politicians seem to prioritize their own greed. We are tired of your lies. We, the people, are done.
These people are the poster child for reactiveness. The situation is only now important because of the loss of life. The same is true of attitude toward infrastructure. How many deaths would it take before a change?
BVIHSA has a management and budget allocation problem. The CEO herself couldn’t say how much money is allocated and said they told the Minister they needed a budget for VG. She told the Minister what was her job and the Chairman’s job that they weren’t doing. A simple roster for staff they couldn’t do. They aren’t even using what they have on the first floor. What is the point of getting more money to open more services that they done open? BVIHSA doctors advertise their private offices on the BVIHSA compound and have nurses that work with them privately and in the BVIHSA sending patients to their private office. Instead of an ambulance they bought a Land Cruiser that can’t hold a stretcher to drive around in. Most times you can see staff sitting out on the balcony chatting. BVIHSA clearly needs a competent CEO and Board before more money.
Who is checking and auditinng the politicians, their income, their frequent trips abroad,and where the proceeds from activities, proceeds from bils passed, especially this current questionable team of elected so called officials?
Truth is in VG 90% of people go to private doctors office instead of clinic . I understand they have some good equipment at the clinic but don’t offer the services that use it .
The government needs to try and get the people to go to the clinic as you don’t have to wait too long , if it’s open , and the staff is pretty good . Let’s face it depending on the time of day you may be treated by the clinic doctor at the private practice.
All we doing is killing the NHI .