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‘BV Islanders are concerned about the incidence of cancer’- Hon Smith

Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) has said the incidence of cancer in the territory is 'very significant' and needs to be addressed. Photo: YouTube
The National Health Insurance (NHI) reported an average of 41 new cases of cancer per year, from 2016 to 2022, with a high of 59 in 2022, and a low of 22 in 2017. Photo: forum.facmedicine.com
The National Health Insurance (NHI) reported an average of 41 new cases of cancer per year, from 2016 to 2022, with a high of 59 in 2022, and a low of 22 in 2017. Photo: forum.facmedicine.com
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development and Territorial At Large Mamber, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE has commended Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) for bringing the Tobacco Products Control (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to the House of Assembly, citing concerns of cancer in the territory.

The bill, which sought to- among other things- ban smoking in hotel rooms and raise the penalties for selling tobacco products to minors and smoking in public places, was passed at the Continuation of the 3rd Sitting of the 2nd Session of the 5th HoA on March 24, 2025.

According to Hon Smith, “BV Islanders are concerned about the incidence of cancer.”

In January 2024, Health Minister Wheatley said that from 2016 to 2022, the National Health Insurance (NHI) recorded 462 cases of cancer, with 74 cases recorded in total in 2022.

According to the Health Minister, NHI reported an average of 14 deaths per year, with a high of 23 and a low of 6 in 2017.

Junior Minister Smith said even though the use of tobacco products is not as significant compared to many other countries, including in the Caribbean, the incidence of cancer in the territory is “very significant, and it is something that we need to be looking at in the future, in terms of the causes.”

Honourable Smith said the Tobacco Products Control (Amendment) Bill, 2025, takes the Virgin Islands another step closer to preventing cancer through smoking.

24 Responses to “‘BV Islanders are concerned about the incidence of cancer’- Hon Smith”

  • The Rum (30/03/2025, 12:15) Like (20) Dislike (4) Reply
    The Alcohol
    Tola full of Alcoholics.
    • Good to see. (30/03/2025, 14:39) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
      Hon. Smith being a good team Player and supporting the Team. It only adds to her Leadership credentials and prepares her for the Top leadership role.
      • @Good to see (30/03/2025, 16:15) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
        Out here playing charade but we are on to the game. Let her continue though
  • Drink Rum twice a week. (30/03/2025, 12:17) Like (6) Dislike (12) Reply
    95% of Cancer patients are so called Christians. The evil, fakeness and their conscience eating out their inside. Alcohol / Beer is the bezt cure for Cancer have two beers Tuesday and 2 on Fridays. Live good, smile be happy and Enjoy a cancee free life....Do yoyr own research about Barley / alxoho. These Doctors plan is too dry your bank book before you die, knowing yiu will die anyway..
  • make sense (30/03/2025, 12:28) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    Most cancer patients are women , and they don’t smoke. So like the guy say , smoke a lil weed , drink couple beers , walk exercise, smile , do things that make you feel good. Raise your frequency to happiness, have sex , laugh don’t hate. We will all pass but enjoy your life while you around. Stop stressing about money and paying bills , dress nice , eat healthy, not too much at a time. Try try try.
  • TOXIC (30/03/2025, 13:40) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    The toxic, carcinogenic unlawful, shameful distribution of these chemicals into the environment coming from the Pockwood Pond DUMP will be a HUGE reason for cancer cases in the area. If a proper study was done the VI government will be liable for billions of dollars. It's a disgrace. If St John residents sue watch out, its going to be trillions.
  • Hmmmmm... (30/03/2025, 15:57) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    And where pray tell is our ever so competent Health Minister (not) in all of this...?
    • wonder if (30/03/2025, 19:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are as quick to point out the Privte providers bending you over and r@ping you without lubricant.? Thats why there is no sympathy for gullible people like you. I hope they bankrupt the country then what do you have to say?
    • @Hmmmmm (01/04/2025, 07:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      He is running to catch the boat to go home.
  • Is it the toxic plastic in case water? (30/03/2025, 17:05) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Has any anyone / organization ever study the harmful impact of drinking plastic water bottles? The states have put out many concerns regarding cases linked to cancer, this needs to be a known issue in the BVI ! It cannot be healthy to be drinking cases of water that have been melting in the heat during shipping process to arrive here. Study this ! I personally found myself drinking up to 10 bottles a day, I was fine for a a number of years until I developed ulcers and found myself to become gassy after drinking a bottle. Not necessarily stomach pain, but crazy gas. Research is due !
  • My only comment (30/03/2025, 17:44) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    The sales of cigarettes should also be banned.
  • Ooooooh (30/03/2025, 17:51) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Now I see why the BVI is not willing to conduct an air quality test. Your neighbors in St. John will soon be slapping you guys with a major lawsuit.
  • henry (31/03/2025, 05:27) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    This act by Smith is so glaring. This is not about illness - it's about her getting that position at the top. She will not remain as deputy or junior anything
  • SB (31/03/2025, 09:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why are BVIslanders concerned bout cancer? You all have damn near daily alcoholic drinking competitions. Piss poor diets and H2O is like drinking poison to people. The only exercise people them doing is sex. The body gives you what you deserve.
  • duh (31/03/2025, 09:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where have you been ?
  • Violet Palace (31/03/2025, 10:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nhi get Lorna and her family rich.

    Supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, villas, healthcare.
  • Hibiscus (31/03/2025, 11:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about we talk about the rise/deaths in cancer patients after yall frightened most of the populartion into taking injections that NONE of you politicians took?
  • Scientist (31/03/2025, 11:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the data? Total cases are misleading. Need to break it down by age group, gender and cancer site to derive age adjusted rates. Then compare rates against rates in other places to evaluate the next steps. The reported differences could have arisen because of differences in data collection. That said, the American Cancer Society reports about 2.041 million new cancer diagnoses per year. That works out to about 0.58% of US population (350 million). The article cites 74 cases in the Territory in 2022, so the new case rate here is 0.24% (based on 30,000 residents), indicating that US new cancer rates are more than twice the Territory’s.


    • @Scientist (31/03/2025, 12:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Your percentage is true based on the number of reported cases, but you also have to factor in the reality that a significant number of our people seek medical attention overseas which will impact the accuracy of the numbers.
      • Scientist (01/04/2025, 02:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Fair point, but there’d have to be double the cases reported to reach US general new case incidence rate. Quite possible many seeking treatment overseas may have been diagnosed here. Again, there needs to be an organized way of collecting and analyzing this type of data. Many countries keep cancer registries for this purpose.
  • Please help. (31/03/2025, 11:52) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    For what is a national emergency, the lack of progress at Pockwood Pond is frightening.
  • bbq (31/03/2025, 17:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leg they like
    Nobody cooks healthy here sorry to say but it’s the truth
  • Really? (01/04/2025, 07:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Government can’t fix our cancer rates by themselves. People need to start living healthy. We have too much obesity in the BVI! We eat and drink with no sense and justify it by saying YOLO. Even our children are obese. Another contributing factor is stress, too many of us have a lot on our plates and no one to share it with. That is why we get upset when we see Natalio doing $&@? With our monies. And, if we are stressed we will not get adequate sleep. We also don’t exercise enough, and get checkups regularly. We only go to the doctor when something is wrong. If we could just work on these it would help.


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