Former Premier Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE (seen here flanked by his youngest daughter Abbey O'Neal, left, and wife Reverend Edris O'Neal OBE at the Queen's Birthday Parade in April 2016, was reportedly flown to a medical facility in Florida, USA a few days ago. Photo: VINO/File

Former Chief Minster and Premier of the Virgin Islands Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE (left) remains a patient at Peebles Hospital, however, preparations are reportedly underway to take him overseas for enhanced medical treatment. Photo: VINO/File

Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE at the BVI Seventh-day Adventist School’s Class of 2016 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday July 3, 2016 at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Tentorium at Paraquita Bay. Photo: VINO/File

This information was also confirmed by sources at Peebles Hospital. Reports are that Hon O’Neal is recuperating well at the overseas medical facility.

The territory’s first Premier suffered a stroke on Friday September 30, 2016, according to a statement from his youngest daughter Abby O'Neal, who also thanked the local hospital staff for their professionalism during her father’s stay.

See previous article published October 7, 2016

Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE still @ Peebles Hospital

- Preparations ongoing to fly him overseas for further medical attention

The territory’s first Premier, 82-year-old Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE who suffered a stroke on Friday September 30, 2016, according to a statement from his youngest Daughter Abby O'Neal, remains a patient at Peebles Hospital in Road Town, the Virgin Islands capital city.

As of publication time, preparations were still being made to fly the former Chief Minister and Premier, who steered the Virgin Islands through many of its most prosperous times, overseas for enhanced medical treatment.

The details of the overseas arrangements have not been disclosed to the public.

In a statement on October 4, 2016, the family of Hon O’Neal expressed gratitude to the medical and administrative staff of Peebles Hospital, who they said “displayed exemplary professionalism and care for which the family are most grateful".

Many accomplishments

Hon O’Neal has served in every Ministry in government except the now Ministry of Communications and Works, and became Chief Minister in 1995 after the death of late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt.

He represented the 9th district for some 40 years (1975-2015).

It is Hon O’Neal who is directly responsible for well over 90% of all developments on Virgin Gorda and Anegada, from the many roads cut and paved, schools and clinics, police stations, post office, water, electricity, Government Administration Complex and docks, along with being in a position to approve many of the private sector developments on both Virgin Gorda and Anegada.

One of Hon O’Neal’s lasting legacies is the creation of the London Office, now the BVI House, to secure the Virgin Islands’ interest in the United Kingdom and the European Union. His Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration is also responsible for much of the development of the Virgin Islands, from the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, the new Queen Elizabeth Bridge, the Commercial Court, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the awarding of Crown lands to residents to build their first home on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada to name a few.

The VIP led Administration built the first Cruise Ship Dock on Wickham’s Cay, introduced the clinic and community centre system throughout the Virgin Islands, which included the  construction of all the community centres and schools from Anegada to Virgin Gorda and Tortola.

Alongside the late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt (R1), it was the VIP with Hon O’Neal that also developed the scholarship system whereby students are sent off to college paid for by the state. This system has educated some 5 generations of Virgin Islanders.