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BVIHSA workers frustrated over years of no increments!

- Once funds are received, the Authority will honour the Minister’s wishes - Carty-Baptiste
Employees of the British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) workers are frustrated over years of no increments. They claimed they have not received any since 2010 and was recently promised their increments by Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton, however, they are now hearing that there is not money to effect such payments. Photo: bvihsa.vg/
Chief Executive Officer of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Mrs Darlene Carty-Baptiste (in picture) said in a written response through Public Relations Officer Mrs Tamara Gill-Archibald, that as promised by the Minister of Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, the Authority is awaiting funds from the Ministry in order to distribute increments to employees. Photo: VINO/File
Chief Executive Officer of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Mrs Darlene Carty-Baptiste (in picture) said in a written response through Public Relations Officer Mrs Tamara Gill-Archibald, that as promised by the Minister of Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, the Authority is awaiting funds from the Ministry in order to distribute increments to employees. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – "How much longer will we have to wait?" This is the question being posed by some employees within the Virgin Islands health sector as they claim they have been waiting for one year too many to be given increments.

“This is not something that we are begging for, it is our entitlement and it seems like everything else in the BVI is taking precedence over them giving us our dues,” said a staff member of Peebles Hospital.

Virgin Islands News Online was told by its many sources within the health sector that employees had just begun to become comfortable following a meeting with Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton where he gave assurances that increments would be paid this year, 2013.

“Look they get me so upset that you feel like you can’t trust nothing that they come and tell you these days,” a BVIHSA employee stated. According to our source, employees were subsequently told during a management meeting that the increment payments were in limbo as there was no monies in the coffers to make the payments. “About two weeks after the Minister come and tell us one thing the management come to tell us another thing, how they expect people to be energised to work and we just working and not getting what is rightfully ours,” expressed the worker.  

Contacted on the issue, Chief Executive Officer of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Mrs Darlene Carty-Baptiste said in a written response through Public Relations Officer Mrs Tamara Gill-Archibald, that as promised by the Minister of Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, the Authority is awaiting funds from the Ministry in order to distribute increments to employees.

“Once funds are received, the Authority will honour the Minister’s wishes. The information requested from the Ministry was sent and clarification can be received from the Ministry,” she explained

She further stated, “As we move forward with a vision of being the leader and preferred provider of healthcare in the Virgin Islands, maintaining the privacy, confidentiality, and respect of our employees and patients is one of the fundamentals of healthcare to which we at the Authority ascribe. We accept the challenges faced with positivity and openness; remaining steadfast in answering questions posed by media houses or the public, with the view to not only resolve issues, but to enhance our quality and delivery of service to our community.”

The BVIHSA CEO was prompt in her response as she said the BVIHSA was striving towards excellence and was grateful for the opportunity to respond with the intention to create and ensure an atmosphere of transparency and objectivity.

Responding to the question posed relating to losing a key doctor recently she said, “The doctor who recently resigned was one of a five-member Internal Medical Team. It is important to note that on the Wednesday prior to the doctor’s departure, interviews were completed, and a doctor was selected to fill the vacant post. There was never any interruption in patient care, as full coverage was sustained, and all appointments were honoured.”

Internal Medical Doctor Mr Anthony Abrahim, who had been with the BVIHSA for an extended number of years, had tendered his resignation with one of his main reasons being that he was working without a contract for over eight months. This news site was informed that subsequent to our story publishing about the doctor's resignation, doctors were being called to have their contracts signed or discussed.

53 Responses to “BVIHSA workers frustrated over years of no increments!”

  • staff (09/04/2013, 13:57) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    Responding to the question posed relating to losing a key doctor recently she said, “The doctor who recently resigned was one of a five-member Internal Medical Team. It is important to note that on the Wednesday prior to the doctor’s departure, interviews were completed, and a doctor was selected to fill the vacant post. There was never any interruption in patient care, as full coverage was sustained, and all appointments were honoured.”

    Ibrahim did well to fire these jokers before they fired him. They left him without a contract so that they could let him go without having to pay. Labor Department need to investigate this kind of worker victimisation by a government board.
    • wellsa (09/04/2013, 20:28) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
      I guess you are feeling the pain, some of these workers and kissing their supervisor a$$ taking news to secure their jobs... wow wick people at the hospital.
    • Observer II (11/04/2013, 09:29) Like (1) Dislike (15) Reply
      I think that Dr. Ibrahim did the right thing. Having employees work on a month to month basis leaves the employees feeling a sense of vulnerability. I am aware of the Health Authority owing employees who have left their employ payment for more than two years and have not made any attempts to pay. This is real mess. The Authority has never found itself in this type of situation. We were going good at one time when Mr. Forbes was the Chairman, now the situation is such a big mess. Just imaging we cannot get increments and doctors that are a crucial part of the system cannot have contracts renewed. Are you all aware that even gratuity to staff remains outstanding? This is real nonsense. I am so disgusted with this situation
  • Boo (09/04/2013, 14:02) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Looks like we are being led down the same path as Anguilla!
    • Hmm (10/04/2013, 13:57) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Right! Not just Anguilla, the USVI also! Them pick this woman unemployed for 2 years with her credentials and they aint figure something wrong? How funny it is that the 2 times she was arrested nothing on the web now.....
      • Wow! (10/04/2013, 14:57) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Arrested? unemployed for two years? What kind of background checks are done on these people? Mr Skelton please look into this
      • @hmm (10/04/2013, 15:01) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        she well fool them off, just like the last FC. HSA is a laughing stock
        • Akail (10/04/2013, 15:57) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          She didn't fool them off. All of them knew what kind of person they were getting yet they chose to waste our tax money hiring her and paying her over $100,000. plus allowances. It leaves one to wonder how she got the job. It sure wasnt based on qualifications or experience.
          • tretretrete (10/04/2013, 20:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
            Akail your right! we here need to start doing back ground check on people! not waiting to pay off people and fin out them stole monies else where or how they treated people
  • links (09/04/2013, 14:04) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
    So wait, they can't collec thte $24mil owed but they want increases? Do these people have cable or internet to see waht going on in the world? At a time when they should be getting lay off and pay cuts they keeping benefits but instead want raise? what the hell?
  • staff (09/04/2013, 14:36) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Poor we
  • weed (09/04/2013, 14:59) Like (10) Dislike (18) Reply
    london bridge is falling down! NDP got to go!
    • tretretrete (09/04/2013, 15:53) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      NDP already approved funding for increments since jan 2013 so the question is what did health service authority do with it
      • ------- (09/04/2013, 17:18) Like (28) Dislike (19) Reply
        spent it on salary increases for executives, board members, and consultancy contacts for motivational speakers
        • Well said (10/04/2013, 07:30) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
          The head only looking out for the news carriers, COMS, DOH, and PUblic Relations manager, you dont want to hear them bragging bout there big salary. She balling bout the Authority broke and buttering bread that is buttered already. Tell the minister look into all the big increases recently thats where the increment money gone. The scale not balance at all since the CEO come on board. Pay attention and checkout who she does role with, her fake a$$. Mr minister she taking you for a ride. Just check it out a lot more leaving and gonna leave cause the scale as i said one sided. Health minister please look into this or it will be another one term for your party. Am watching and be giving up dates
        • staff 2 (11/04/2013, 17:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

          this is so tru thats exactly what i think they did with the money and Ms. B has the nerve to FORCE you to attend such motivational workshops as i remember having been forced to go to one early this year and already pissed that i had to go i decided that i would stay the morning session and leave after lunch which they provided but to my dis may right before we had lunch ms b sent a message thru her messenger threatening saying that if anyone leaves and doesnt come back to the afternoon session you pay will b deducted every one was in total shock and anger. how could she say something like that wat was the workshop supposed to teach us some of us didnt care to be there others had lots of work to finish up but couldnt because a whole day of BULL was slated for us to go to

        • staff (12/04/2013, 07:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          the rest gone to jobs or contract for people for NLB
  • "Only Excellents Count" (09/04/2013, 15:10) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    WOW....
  • school children (09/04/2013, 15:33) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    Pay the people, you taking the people expertise for granted, one of these day you all would wake up and find there is no one to manage at that hospital.
    • vicious (09/04/2013, 16:12) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
      if you all pay your damn bills then people can be paid. you owe over $24mil u have no shame? where govt suppose to get money for increment when people not paying for services.
  • farmer brown (09/04/2013, 15:34) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    how could they treat people like this while thoes at the top rack up big bucks????
  • Lulu (09/04/2013, 15:50) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mrs. Carty Mrs. Samuel. And Mrs. Smith is who getting the big bucks for doing nothing, Put Mrs. Samuel back with the crazy people and mrs. Smith back to Nursing
    • yoyo (09/04/2013, 17:23) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      Amen Sister! Three blind mice! I am interested in finding out about the jamdown they gave the big increase to pick up new staff in the airport and tell them about the BVI. His increase alone could have paid about ten staff increments.
    • Not good quality leaders (10/04/2013, 07:34) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      They need to send all three plus Gill home they drying the well now man staff tired of all four of them. Not leadership quality at all they are self above country which should be the opposite way around.
  • concern (09/04/2013, 16:22) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    That's why I said they need to take a hair cut. I have a friend in one of the island having the same problem they keep moving her all about getting her frustrated, sending up her pressure and as she already put in some much years she just hand them her letter and when she went back to her doctor the doctor tell her whatever she is doing now keep doing it. She aint no increment for years now too. I even tell her she looks like a teenage now and she is a native/ a local. And guess what who do you think they replaced her with a foreigner and someone way over her age. You think they couldn't employ some one young or at least 2-3 persons younger as they may have to pay her 3 times my friend salary
  • Good Deeds (09/04/2013, 20:21) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    @hmmm. Have you visited BVIHSA (Peebles) lately to see all the adjustments & upgrades that were done not to mention new staffing? That is where the Increments are channeling along with the Celma system they recently installed. The BVIHSA DYSFUNCTIONAL USELESS BOARD needs dismantling. It was poorly managed under Forbes & it is even worse under Cline & the management team. Mr. Skelton you should consider removing The Chairman, Director & the COMS and believe you me people will be less disgruntled & frustrated because they are the ROOT OF THE PROBLEM & as long as those persons are in the positions they have BVIHSA will sink PERMANENTLY!! People elected you as a Minister for Health & Social Development and as that minister you cannot stand or sit back and let injustices reign.
  • ooooo (09/04/2013, 21:09) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    the same money that is being used to pay the bishop should be used to pay these people instead
  • Captain (10/04/2013, 01:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    News Flash folks...what else is new under the getto deva?
    • ..-.. (10/04/2013, 07:27) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      don't forget Popeye, Big Bird, and the Cheerleader (TAG) - and last but not least the Clown Klein the ringmaster
  • Gs (10/04/2013, 07:46) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    Wow after reading most of the comments. Now i see why some ppl dont make it no where iñ life. To much negativity. Shame an u all!!
    • @Gs (10/04/2013, 08:49) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      Keep them comments for your "live" TV Show... Ouch!
    • Change Needed (10/04/2013, 11:05) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Gs if you were on the inside you would understand we have racked up more than a million dollar debt in the five months under the leadership of theCEO and her team. If you were in this position what would you do, supplies are short we don't have what it takes to do a good job but yet they want us to live under the slogan "Only Exllence Counts". Gs get real it is only when you are ill and need services you and many like you will understand. A change is needed and fast.
    • @Gs (10/04/2013, 11:29) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      and to use one of your own quotes "don't let the door hit you on the way out" when the charade is over.

      New offices, ipad, executive bonuses, salary increases for "bad girls and friends", useless consultancy contracts, but cant pay increments, cant buy supplies, cant buy medications, and victimising staff.
    • Really???? (10/04/2013, 16:20) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      @Gs:You need to shut your A$$. You sound like one of them who receiving big pay check for doing nothing. This WOMAN is an IMPOSTER AND WE DEMAND THAT SHE BE RELIEVED FROM THE CEO POST!!!!
  • tretretrete (10/04/2013, 08:39) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let me tell ayo something the money was sent but ask the CEO why she send it back......
  • Tru Tru (10/04/2013, 11:08) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Miinister said he sent it. She say she sent it back. Who telling the truth?? Wondering minds would like to know. CEO the mike is in your face and your answer is ............? Remember the tapes are rolling be very carefu wid your answer
  • A Fahie (10/04/2013, 19:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow! What a mess!
  • Knowing (10/04/2013, 20:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I AM NOT SURPRISED. THE SHIP WILL SINK WITH A CREW LIKE THIS...SMITH, CARTY-BAPTISTE, GILL, THIS IS A SAD, SAD, TIME IN THE BVIHSA
  • Roaming Customer (10/04/2013, 21:14) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    @GS, people are voicing there concerns & frustrations. It have absolutely nothing to do with negative publicity. No matter what the article entails you will get both negative & positive feedback. For the past few weeks I've been following the thread & its very embarrassing & disturbing to see what the Authority has come to, all bec of selfishness, greed, gossip, friends, family, favoritsm & egostic mentality. Life is not fair, but when you're working in a system where Management & supervisors have a conspiracy theory against you and have no concern about your well being in an organization you have no other choice than to vent on a site where people can understand your plight, anger, stress & disgust. When you look at the rational, the country is in a financial defecit, cost of living has soar tremendously & it is not getting any better, it is getting worse. Premiums on insurance rise, tax, social security, rent just to name a few & you're denied increment for 3 YEARS !!! What is the staff supposed to do, NOT VENT? Give me a dam break!! Matters like this only arise when it involves a leakage. When the media contact them, they are not obligated to answer to the press but we all no when they do, they TAILOR THE FACTS CONVINCINGLY!!! If the Minister signed for workers to get increments & he said "it was sent" & according to some1 "it was sent back" that clearly states the kind of inhumane person/s you have holding these positions & ontop of that who supposed to be a LEADER/S!! You push for your STAFF not push for FRIENDS & NEWS CARRIERS!! The sprats will get 50c raise while the sharks get 1000$ raise & mayb additional bonuses too. Now tell me where is the JUSTICE in that.
  • mad (10/04/2013, 21:38) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Motto should read "Only Favoritism, Gossipers & Family Counts"
  • fix it (11/04/2013, 00:26) Like (5) Dislike (14) Reply
    Mr. Minister it seem like you have signed off with the blight that has been cast on bvihsa staff especially those working in the hopital. Minister you have a powder keg and the fuse is lit...dissolve this baptiste/smith/samuel administration WE want to welcome back Dr.Hannibal from sick leave. Here is a good man true leader, knowledgable, a son of soil who always get the job done... we respect and love him... NDP-VIP Stop refusing our corner stone.#^#%
  • Analysis ? (11/04/2013, 09:59) Like (0) Dislike (10) Reply
    I disagree with @hmm statement that it was bad under Mr. Forbes. I have been here before Mr. Forbes, here while Mr. Forbes was here and still here. I could say that Mr. Forbes brought about change. We were able to feel a difference while Mr. Forbes was here. Gratuity was late for staff, but payments were made. The same FC we were castigating was making an effort to collect funds. She was never a person who was in any clique and she knew no one. She was fair. Anyone here could feel the leadership presence while she and Stoddard was here. And if anyone wants to be fair they would talk the truth. Right now there is no professionalism at the helm of this organization. It is only friend and laughing with not seriousness. Look at the four that are leading this organization, do you see any professionalism? Where is the change. We should have continued with the leadership of the last FC and all now we would have been better off. We could only move forward if we recognize the contribution that people make and try doing better. Do you all see that we are moving no where fast? When will we get up and start thinking of ways to bring about improvement as opposed to just criticizing. What about constructive criticism? We are suppose to be going into the new Hospital? With this management and culture? I think not.
  • To Analysis (11/04/2013, 13:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where you there when financial documents where being shredded and hard drives erased after a certain person was fired?
  • Analysis ? (11/04/2013, 17:54) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    I was here in the Community working and knew that it was a load of rubbish. Have you heard of documents being destroyed with an electronic system is in place? Be smart. Have you heard of hard drives being erased when there is a server that has all the data? You cannot see that it was a load of rubbish? Anyone to believe that had to be naive. I was tempted to believe it, but when I started asking questions that persons could not answer, I realized that it was a load of rubbish. I asked the person who brought the story how was electronic documents destroyed by shredding and I could not get an answer.
  • TWINE (11/04/2013, 18:19) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I AGREE WID FIX IT WHEN HE WAS RUNNING THINGS LOTS WAS ACCOMPLISHED....WE WANT HIM BACK GET RID OF THE GANG OF 4 ...
  • barbie (11/04/2013, 22:35) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    To: Observer II and Analysis
    Are you for real? What leader ship of Forbes you talking about. Both of you are really delusional. This man is responsible for 90% of the Financial Mess were in today. He and the two evil sidekicks he had in the Finance Department single handle ruin our Finances. Bills not being paid for almost two and half years. Before they were fired, we were left with almost 3million dollars in debts. The one canstod had the nerve to delete her own hospital bill for the system talking about it was an accident.. (A bill she incurred before she became and employee.) The Trinidad was no better making excuse for her and her incompetence. She could barely add much less write a decent letter and was always calling down other people work. She was so bad that she became the laughing stock of many of our supplier and staff.
    As for deleting information and shredding of document, there is proof. You can ask the Internal Audit Department of Govt and any staff in the Finance Department about this. Those two were wicked and Forbes had the nerve to try and justify this.
    As for the current CEO and her cheer leading squad their time will come. Imagine she trying to get rid of staff who here for some many years and holding down the forth despite not receiving the due rewards. Some of us have worked many days and night without any kind of compensation. Thru flood, hurricane and many other disasters. Some time coming in on days off when short staff and working past our eight hours. (They are still those of us who do come early and leave late and do perform. So please limit any negative comments on this part.) Yet we are the one she have on her lay off list. Leaving the new carriers and gossipers to do more damage than what good. I hope she know what she doing. If you lay off the hard working one you better be shore those left can fill their shoes.
  • mad (12/04/2013, 09:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ Barbie, and Roaming Customer. You both hit the nail on the point and it's head. Every organization have issues, disputes & descrepancies @ some point & as a good leader there are ways and means to settle & find solution/s to the problem rather than conspiring, being bias, irrational & naive. BVIHSA is doing very POOR under the new managment and they fail to realize the detrimental damage they have caused & continuously doing to the Authority. People are more than frustrated with them & their unprofessional ethics, biasness and attitudes & choose to release the tension here. They do have hard working people in the authority and I applaud them for their time, efforts, dedications & willingness but working in an environment or institution where there is just passa passa, no encouragement, no team spirits, efforts or support from your comrades/peers is really hopeless. These ladies come to work SPECIFICALLY to gossip, create enemies, stir up problems, dispose of you when you stand up for your right & speak the TRUTH!! make your life a living HELL rather than doing what they are PAID to do! When a fish rotten it starts from the HEAD preferrably the EYES. In conclusion I'll quote "FRET NOT THYSELF BECAUSE OF EVIL DOERS FOR THEY SHALL SOON BE CUT DOWN LIKE THE GRASS AND WITHER AS THE GREEN HERB" Psalm 37: 1-2.
    • Sampson (12/04/2013, 12:59) Like (3) Dislike (31) Reply
      As Long as the BVIHSA keeps employing old bitter semi-retired employees who leave their countries in search of the American dollar who do not like the BVI nor their job that they have been doing for donkey years.....These issues will NEVER go away. Lets face facts...Someone who has been at a job for donkey years will Not have the same Passion, Desire, nor drive as a young prospecting candidate who is seeking the same job!
  • staff (12/04/2013, 17:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vino you need to check out some breaking news at the Hospital, with some major management shakeups.
  • Help,Hospital (13/04/2013, 13:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    The Dir of Hosp. Services curse of the Puerto Rico Doctor Friday. I will like to see what the CEO,Cline or Ronnie will do about that. It happen in front of staff,visitors and patients. If it was a staff that acted so unprofessional they would not have a job today. She was so loud I was in the waiting room and I heard the noise. Ronnie that's who you have running our Hospital wake up election soooooon come.

    CEO you seems as a fair lady dont bring yourself to the Director level. Step up and act your role suspend her.

  • .... (13/04/2013, 16:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    As if they dont know how low class and ghetto the woman is. She and her sidekicks Pop I and the Cheerleader ain't going one place as long as her cous bitiop klein down there. Hog does root in mud and he have the place full of it.
  • Good Deeds (13/04/2013, 20:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ Help Hospital. That is nothing new, The CEO, Ronnie Skelton and the so call Executive Board members will not do a dam thing about it because that is the norm and they are all holding 1 head. When you put a hog in a palace it remains a PIG! Skelton already lost my vote 4 sure. The people have the power vice versa but in this case our opinions are useless!!


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