Blatant neglect @ Anegada sinks Hubert R. O’Neal in Debate. Photo: VINO/File

Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Candidate, Vincent O. Neal first blasted O’Neal’s NDP government led by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, for the blatant neglect of the Auguste George Airport, in his response to the posed question noting that the problem is a very simple one to fix. Photo: VINO/File

It was one of the most anticipated events ever in the Virgin Islands' (VI) political history, the first debate in many years between three political candidates. Photo: VINO/File

The licks did not just come from the murmurs of those physically present at Catholic Community Centre on January 9, 2019 and those who join by Live online feed, but his opponents’ responses to the question, “what do you have planned for emergency situations in Anegada” were brutal.

Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Candidate, Vincent O. Wheatley, first blasted O’Neal’s NDP government, led by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, for the blatant neglect of the Auguste George Airport, in his response to the posed question, noting that the problem is a very simple one to fix.

No Airport Lights

“Currently there are no lights at the Airport in Anegada…So persons who are injured in Anegada during the evening have to either go by boat or Helicopter or wait until the following day…We have to get lights on that Airport in Anegada,” articulated Wheatley.

He further said, “…we also need to have some kind of Helicopter service that works along with the Police (Royal Virgin Islands Police Force) where it is available on call.”

According to O'Neal, in the current state it requires persons needing urgent medical attention, to wait on Air Service to come all the way from Puerto Rico.

Compounding the situation is the absence of proper medical facilities and human resources, especially a resident doctor.

“Currently a doctor goes to Anegada once a week on a Monday, providing the water is not rough…We look at the issue of evacuation by boat but the medical fraternity decided that evacuation from Anegada by boat is not a safe thing to do.”

He said, “the only option you have left is to either have better facilities on Anegada in case of emergencies like a resident doctor, or a lit airport with the helicopter service that can fly at nights.”

Hurricanes

Hon O’Neal was next to respond and noted the absence lights at the airport even before Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

“It has been a difficult situation trying to get a doctor resident on Anegada…I being a doctor myself am very concerned about that.”

He was adamant, “we have tried on many occasions to get a doctor resident on Anegada but as you would realize that being that Anegada is such a small community, you can hardly find a doctor that is willing to reside on Anegada.

Lashes

Pelting the lashes with a whip longer and more spranged than a ‘cat-o-nine-tail,’ Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) District Nine Candidate, Mr Jose`DeCastro, insisted that that Anegada deserves to be treated better and not be constantly given rejects.

He alluded to the fact that right after the hurricanes, Anegada was receiving tourists while the rest of the Territory was struggling to rebuild.

This, he posited as a contributing factor to the tourism sector of the Virgin Islands being kept alive.

Hitting directly at Hon O’Neal, he said, “…we should not be saying that because Anegada has a few hundred people, that we cannot provide health care services there on a fulltime basis.”

DeCastro said, “we have the money, let’s put it in the right place,” as he lobbied for the entire District Nine – Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.