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Hon Vincent O. Wheatley claps back @ criticisms by Hons Skelton & Penn

- says while Hons Skelton & Penn had an opportunity to fix these issues his job now as minister is to address them
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said his ministry is working on a number of issues identified within the health and social services sector in the Virgin Islands. Photo: YouTube
Opposition members and former Health Ministers, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) (left) and Hon Ronnie V. Skelton both said there are issues within the Health and Social Development sector particularly with the National Health Insurane and the Health Services Authority on the March 26, 2025, episode of The Big Story. Photo: Facebook
Opposition members and former Health Ministers, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) (left) and Hon Ronnie V. Skelton both said there are issues within the Health and Social Development sector particularly with the National Health Insurane and the Health Services Authority on the March 26, 2025, episode of The Big Story. Photo: Facebook
The BVI Health Services Authority (HSA) came into effect in 2004 while Hon Ronnie V. Skelton (AL) served as Minister for Health. Photo: Internet Source
The BVI Health Services Authority (HSA) came into effect in 2004 while Hon Ronnie V. Skelton (AL) served as Minister for Health. Photo: Internet Source
The National Health Insurance (NHI) came into effect in 2016 while Hon Ronnie V. Skelton (AL) served as Minister for Health. Photo: Internet Source
The National Health Insurance (NHI) came into effect in 2016 while Hon Ronnie V. Skelton (AL) served as Minister for Health. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said the issues brought up by two former Health Ministers of the territory, Hons Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) and Marlon A. Penn (R8), now Members of the Opposition, are being addressed.

The two Opposition legislators criticised the current state of the Health and Social Development sector in the Virgin Islands (VI) while on The Big Story on JTV Channel 55 on March 26, 2025. 

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) on March 28, 2025, Hon Wheatley admitted there are deficiencies within his ministry regarding the National Health Insurance (NHI) and the Health Services Authority (HSA). 

NHI an 'excellent idea' but reforms were needed a long time ago

HSA came into effect in 2004 while Hon Skelton served as Minister for Health, and in 2016, also with him as Health Minister, NHI came into effect. 

According to Hon Wheatley, the idea of NHI was an excellent one, but he said, “A lot of things that should have happened along the way never happened for it to function the way it was intended to function.”

He said that upon taking office as the Minister for Health and Social Development for the first time, he proposed amendments and reforms. 

“The reforms started when I was minister the first time, so at least Marlon had an opportunity to continue the reforms; he didn’t do [that]; when I came back as minister…I had to pick up where I had left off and do exactly what they are saying needs to be done.”

Hon Wheatley said the establishment of the Contracts Committee is one such example. It is intended to control the relationship between NHI and HSA, defining that relationship to make it work efficiently.

“That committee was never formed… they never did it, none of them, but I came back to office in 2023, I started a committee, [and] it is now functioning.”

According to Hon Wheatley, the Contracts Committee, after two years is currently finalising this critical aspect, which should be done by April 2025.

Social Services became 'intrusive' under Hon Penn

During the Big Story interview, the process of gaining access to assistance through Social Services was deemed intrusive. 

However, Hon Wheatley explained that under Hon Penn’s leadership as Health Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new system was brought in where the government’s discretionary fund was handed over to Social Development, and the criteria to access funds were also changed. 

“Yes a lot of persons who I used to give money to when I had the discretionary fund, senior persons, are no longer getting it because they have found the process too intrusive,” Hon Wheatley said. 

He admitted that requesting bank account balances, account numbers and who is on these accounts can be considered intrusive. 

“With the new public assistance policy, we are trying to streamline that process, where persons wouldn’t have to wait a whole length of time for simple things like food vouchers.”

He added that while the Public Assistance Act is done, what has not been completed are the regulations, which should also be finalised in April. 

Issues not new; both had a chance to fix them- Hon Wheatley

Hon Wheatley said the statements by Hon Skelton and Hon Penn do have some level of truth, but they are not new issues. 

“I’m not here to bawl about [these things]; I’m here to address these issues, and they are absolutely right, but they had a chance to fix them too,” he stated. 

The health and social services sector in the VI is going through major reforms right now, and KPMG is currently working with HSA to progress its vision. 

Hon Wheatley said he is not “running away” from these problems that have been identified as he is working to address them. 

The ministry’s public relations needs work

Hon Wheatley also admitted that his ministry’s public relations needs to be worked on. 

“We do tend to drop in reporting to the public which I intend to fix very soon, because we are doing all these things and the public don’t really hear about them, then when these guys go on radio to say a,b,c, everybody thinks that is the reality and that’s not true.”

The reality, he said, is that the work being done is not reported to the public. 

Hon Wheatley reiterated, “The problems did precede me, but my job while I am here is to advance the solutions to the problems identified, and we are on our way to do such.”

16 Responses to “Hon Vincent O. Wheatley claps back @ criticisms by Hons Skelton & Penn”

  • THATS RIGHT (31/03/2025, 08:57) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
    Dr WHEATHLY , STRAIGHTEN THOSE TWO HYPOCRITES , BUT YOU AINT NO DIFFERENT , IF YOU ARE DOING THINGS AND NOT KEEPING THE PUBLIC UP TO DATE , IT DON'T MAKE NO SENCE , / WHO YOU WORKING FOR ❓️???? / UNLESS YOU ARE PLAYING POSSUM ( GAMES ) OR LIEING , ( WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED SINCE YOU GOT INTO POLITICS ❓️???????? ( BESIDES , WORKING WITH THE DREW , USING MONEY GRAM TO EXPLOIT THE ISLAND PEOPLE , BY DOUBLE TAXING THEM , AND CLOSING YOUR EYES AND ALLOWING THEYLIR EMPLOYERS TO RIP THEM OFF ALONG WITH THE SAME GOVERNMENT YOU WORKING FOR BY NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES THAT THEY TtOOK OUT FROM THE ISLAND PEOPLE THEM SALARY / THAT IS SO DISGRACEFUL
    ■ WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO ENLIGHTEN US , AND PLEASE BE TRUTHFUL
    • Another salty fool.. (31/03/2025, 09:44) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
      This is why the private providers will continue to r@pe the system. Because if you not up and dowm the place bragging about what you are doing you playing possum. But if you state the accomplishments you taking credit. Thats why Trump stated "I love the uneducated." because they can be taken advantaged of easily. This fool continue to hold the rap of the 9th for some money gram laws but still kissing the behind of other who also voted for it. You are a flat out hypocrite.
    • The Poli.Farmer (31/03/2025, 10:04) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Lol in other words, Vincyyy say “we don’t have time for this, two ayo GO SIDDUNG” ????????
    • Hit em up !!! (31/03/2025, 10:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      hit back
      wit de clap
      of the Ronnie and Marlon
      Attack
  • VG (31/03/2025, 09:12) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    Yes butch set the record straight
  • Now we talking (31/03/2025, 09:20) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    For far too long, the Honourable Minister V. Wheatley has taken the high road—seeking to build consensus rather than stirring up discontent. But there comes a time when one must take the gloves off and stand up in defense of oneself. That time is now.
    These two disingenuous individuals have suddenly woken up—not out of principle, but out of desperation. They failed to maintain a quorum, lost not one, but two members to the VIP, and then had their own opposition members essentially declare them ineffective by breaking away to form an alliance. And yet, we are now supposed to believe that they are capable of leading The Territory?
    This is not about vision or leadership of the Health and social Welfare -they both had the opportunity and either maintained the status quo (Penn) or in the case of Skelton developing a scheme to enrich his friends . This is about scrambling to hold onto power because they see their opportunity slipping away. The real tragedy in all this is that there will still be gullible people who fall for the rhetoric. But more and more are waking up to both of these so called Leaders.
  • Hard to give money to my friends... (31/03/2025, 09:48) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Interesting. His quote, "admitted that requesting bank account balances, account numbers and who is on these accounts can be considered intrusive".
    It is much less intrusive to just give Vincent a bag of money!
  • Real cost (31/03/2025, 10:43) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NHI has been funding the private doctor offices for the last few years with more than $80 Million in annual funding. $80 million going straight into the pockets of doctors without checking actual invoices or real cost of treatment.

    Since the start of the NHI this has cost the BVI people close to $1 Billion in funding since the start in 2014.

    Can you imagine what could have been paid for with $1 Billion for 30,000 persons in the BVI?

    No one talks about it because it is another Nature's Little Secret!
  • Yes Mr. Wheatley (31/03/2025, 10:46) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    Call Ronnie and Marlon out, they are thirsty to be Premier and Deputy Premier. Call those two greedy thirsty ones out.
  • FACIAL EXPRESSION (31/03/2025, 10:47) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    THE PRINCE OF VG , IS SAYING )> THIS IS FOR YOU TWO JOKERS OVER THERE , AH KNOW YOU WASN'T EXPECTING ME TO RESPOND LIKE THIS , BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES , SHOULDN'T THROW , STONES , GO FLEX OFF ON YOURSELVES NOW ,
  • VI man (31/03/2025, 11:02) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    lying sob
  • Lb (31/03/2025, 12:29) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    We voting back Vincent coy need to keep his job to feed his family
  • FACIAL EXPRESSIONS (31/03/2025, 13:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE TWO GENERALS , IS SAYING )> PEn) BOI HE LOOKS LIKE HE TEKIN REVENGE ON WE NOW ????, ( SKELIE - YEAH , HE GOT US WHERE HE WANTS US - AND AIN'T NUTTIN WE CAN DO ABOUT IT / SO LETS SQUEEZE OUR FINGERS TIGHT , AND PRAY THAT HE DOESN'T EXOPSE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT US .
    • LOOK LICKS (31/03/2025, 17:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Them say wasy dog does bite hard. Them mash Vinny corn now and he ain holding back. Just like he flex off on the VG gurls when them come wit them foolishness and never even tell anybody bout who private practice benefiting. Them gurls was probably getting some of the cheese and them put them up to it to continue feeding off it
  • Me (31/03/2025, 15:09) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ronnie-Marlon take that when you two were saving these snakes back during COI investigation then Marlon went ahead to form coalition Government to save the likes. King Charles please come to our rescue from these criminally


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