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Is land an option for the BVIHSA to settle medical bills?

- forms for collecting monies owed to BVIHSA questions ownership of land & other valuables
Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Bishop John I. Cline has admitted that information on land ownership is being collected by the BVIHSA in its debt settlement plans. Photo: VINO
It was last week January 7, 2015 on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) radio show ‘Let’s Talk’ when Hon Fraser took to the airways and lashed out against some of the BVI Health Services Authority’s polices in which the turning over of land was on the table for negotiation to pay outstanding medical debts of residents. Photo: VINO/File
It was last week January 7, 2015 on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) radio show ‘Let’s Talk’ when Hon Fraser took to the airways and lashed out against some of the BVI Health Services Authority’s polices in which the turning over of land was on the table for negotiation to pay outstanding medical debts of residents. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - At a press conference earlier today January 15, 2015 the question was put to Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Bishop John I. Cline by this news site's reporter as to whether or not there has been any activity to retrieve monies that are owed to the BVIHSA and his response was a resounding "Yes, Yes."

He further said, "We‎ are in the process of trying to recoup the twenty or so million dollars that has been owed to this organisation for many, many years and we are doing it internally and we are doing it externally."

Operating externally is a bill collector that has been hired by the BVIHSA to assist in the collecting of outstanding debts. "This is not something strange, it is done all over the world. You are provided a service, you are expected to pay, you promise to pay but you don't pay then we come knocking on your door and ask you to pay. I don't see what's strange about that!" said Bishop Cline.

He said that the process of retrieving owed monies may have been had-hoc in the past but they are now operating in a more structured fashion. "Now it's more focused and it's more organized and we intend to collect money."

He said that the BVIHSA can take defaulters to court. This news site understands that the majority of the persons with the largest owed amounts are people who the BVIHSA knows have the means to honour their debts.

The light bulb went on around the issue of people being asked to sell their land to pay due bills to the BVIHSA when a follow-up question was asked ‎of Financial Controller of the BVIHSA Ms Angeline Q. John if there is a form that questions in-debtors ownership of land and other worth. 

Ms John said, "It's standard collection practice that you would seek that sort of information from anybody owing and this is the means by which you would be guided to establish a sort of payment plan,  based on what their indisposable income is."

She acknowledged that some persons may have misunderstood that aspect of the process and may have thought that they were being put in a position or being asked to sell their land to honour their debt to the BVIHSA.

32 Responses to “Is land an option for the BVIHSA to settle medical bills?”

  • kids (15/01/2015, 15:17) Like (10) Dislike (11) Reply
    Fraser for next premier always speak the truth
  • puss (15/01/2015, 15:26) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Who is the lady sitting besides Cline?
  • bb (15/01/2015, 16:45) Like (10) Dislike (6) Reply
    Set of cowbirds always lying to the people
  • facts man (15/01/2015, 17:26) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    The poor catching hell under the ndp
  • voter (15/01/2015, 19:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Land is always an option. The good pastor will take your land and give you money to settle your bill
  • Bushmaster (15/01/2015, 19:08) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    Fraser is on point exposing this NDP wickedness
    • now sah! (15/01/2015, 22:21) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Godbless we have fraser and andrew...Alvin and ralph them playing with these people.
  • well saw (15/01/2015, 21:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Let the people spend their one tenth offering on their health

  • qc (15/01/2015, 21:58) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Last nail in NDP coffin.
    • Not an NDP Supporter (16/01/2015, 13:46) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      I am not an NDP Supporter but Cline is right. If you were rendered services you should pay. Not the last nail in my eyes.
  • Mike Roch (15/01/2015, 22:23) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    I don't like our BVIHSA being in the land business I find this very strange despite theirclaims that this is normal practice all over the world, I seriously doubt that
  • facts man (15/01/2015, 22:34) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    NDP has lower our way of life Over And Out.
  • Blind Man (15/01/2015, 23:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ...yeah...the situation looks bleak if we must really pay this
  • xxxxxxxx (16/01/2015, 00:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is precisely where our government should step in for the good of the community,
  • voter (16/01/2015, 00:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    As time goes by they will be seen for the villains they truly are but it will be to late.
  • oUCH (16/01/2015, 01:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Number one cause of personal bankruptcy in the US is medical care expenses. That means that if you run up a medical bill that you can't pay for (or is not covered by insurance), you get to sell your assets to pay them. All of them if need be, regardless of whether it renders you homeless and broke. Even your wages can be garnished at source.
  • Music (16/01/2015, 06:57) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Despite the explanation that they need to assess a defaulters net worth in order to assess their ability to pay, bloggers still think people are being coerced into selling land to pay. What has settling your outstanding medical bills, at what was a very cheap rate, got to do with the NDP? You were happy because for all those years the VIP didn't force collection? If VIP are elected you are still going to have to pay, believe me!
  • Plank (16/01/2015, 07:16) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Turn this thing back over to the ministry for better management. Govt. Needs to have an effective debt collection dept. there are lots of x and retired police officers looking for work. Put Roobo Cop in charge. YOU WILL GET MOST OF YOUR MONEY COLLECTED, for sure
  • Plank (16/01/2015, 07:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you travel overseas for medical attention, as you check-in and they know you have insurance straight to a private room they taking you, you don`t even have to ask for one. insurance paying for that. ' That's good business'. But in this Monster that they built they only have 2-3-4 private rooms if that much. 'Maybe they don`t want to make money' I have good insurance, I need a private room, or I will travel overseas just to get that attention and my privacy. Maybe they should consider using some of that massive lobby space for a few more private rooms.
  • trrefdrfds (16/01/2015, 09:26) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    For some the Truth is that we have this mentality of I born here and walk away from our bills. But for others, really some of us cant afford it, most times we don't have the money at the time, we make a promise, have good intentions but never look back/forget. This is what was happening for too many years but there are repercussions for every action and reality is it cant continue like this someone has to pay for it. But I think its wrong that people cant pay a bill and you try and take their land. We have enough problems here in the BVIs with ourland, this is not a solution. maybe they can work out payment plans that are feasible with the person instead of taking away everything they own.
    • Land Holder (16/01/2015, 12:47) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Sell your land and pay your bills ! That is the way the world works.
  • wize up (16/01/2015, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Stop referring to the man as bishop; that title is for Sundays...he the chairman of health services authority.there is a big difference between John the bishop and John the business man...
    • . (17/01/2015, 01:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      No difference. Both of them gr**dy as M*ke R0ch and hypocrites besides.

    • Boo (17/01/2015, 17:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      we will call him Bishop, that is the title he gave himself. But we will be referring to the Money and Land Bishop
  • saying (16/01/2015, 15:27) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    And the services is not up to par only can diagnose cold and flue and not a darn thing eles
  • A Fahie (17/01/2015, 19:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow!

    1772 France "let them eat cake"
    2015 BVI "let them sell their land"

    What have we come to under this NDP Government?


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