Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘Name New Hospital for Premier Smith’ – Hon Ronnie W. Skelton

-‘Don’t Object!’ - Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton tells Hon Julian Fraser RA
Minister for Health and Social Development is canvasing for the New Peebles Hospital to be someday named after Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith. Photo: VINO
In making his suggestion Hon Skelton took a shot at Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) when he said, “I am sure Julian would not object,” a statement which attracted much heckling and laughter from the audience present at the opening ceremony of the New Peebles Hospital yesterday December 17, 2014. Photo: VINO
In making his suggestion Hon Skelton took a shot at Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) when he said, “I am sure Julian would not object,” a statement which attracted much heckling and laughter from the audience present at the opening ceremony of the New Peebles Hospital yesterday December 17, 2014. Photo: VINO
The suggestion was put in public yesterday December 17, 2014. Photo: VINO
The suggestion was put in public yesterday December 17, 2014. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – “At some later date Mr O’Neal [Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE (R9)] if you agree, we can name the facility after [Dr the Hon D. Orlando Smith],” suggested Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton as he said that would be fitting for the 40 years attachment of Premier Smith to the Health Care main facility.

In making his suggestion Hon Skelton took a shot at Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) when he said, “I am sure Julian would not object,” a statement which attracted much heckling and laughter from the audience present at the opening ceremony of the New Peebles Hospital yesterday December 17, 2014.

Leading up to his suggestion, Hon Skelton pointed to the fact that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was present at the dedications of the hospital expansion back in 1977 and in 2005 the hospital’s annex was dedicated by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne. “I was Minister then,” he said.

According to the Health Minister, attempts were made to have someone from the Royal Family present at yesterday’s ceremony but it did not materialize.

Premier Smith in his address yesterday spoke highly of his bond to the hospital which he said had its genesis more than forty years ago. “You see, I have always felt a personal bond to this facility. Indeed it is where I started my career as a surgeon more than forty years ago and after many years as Chief Medical Officer I retired from the Public Service. You will see then why I say in the booklet that Peebles Hospital has been an integral part of my life,” said Premier Smith.

“I refer to those times in the booklet and reiterate that although we did not have all of the facilities and services at the time to meet all the needs which arose, we did our best to provide quality care to our people. The people here at this hospital are truly as dear as family as hardly a week passes when I do not have a reason to visit,” he said.

13 Responses to “‘Name New Hospital for Premier Smith’ – Hon Ronnie W. Skelton”

  • wize up (18/12/2014, 09:39) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    good idea; dr smith did well for health care in BVI; people will talk but it is a wonderful idea(son of the soil)
  • ha (18/12/2014, 10:50) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    .Tell us under whose watch our hospital service and health care started going down hill. Do not strum your own drum. No fisherman says his fish is no good. Why did that building take so long to finish? Tell us about those contractors from DR. when our locals could not get a job. How was the first set of money spent? How much of it remained in the territory? Since you make it political tell us the truth. We want to know the final cost. Bragging and still begging. We are waiting to hear what is next.
  • hard truth (18/12/2014, 11:39) Like (14) Dislike (11) Reply
    Oh no name it off uncle ralph he did much more than orlando
    • virgin gorda (18/12/2014, 13:58) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Ndp playing politics this thing should be name off ralph as he signed the contract with jamsy to finish it plus vip was not vindictivethey went ahead and name the thing at the college off the big ndp psrsons
  • Music (18/12/2014, 13:51) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Bad idea. Ralph introduced a law making it unlawful to change place names.
    Leave it as Peebles please.
  • Strups (18/12/2014, 22:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Strups, why every building, every street etc have to be named off somebody...damn...what's wrong with Peebles? Oh wait, everybody want fame & what better way than to get your name attached to some grand scale, million dollar project (in this case millionsss). Alvin want it name after Ralph now Skelton want it name after Smith...sickening every last one of em
  • farmer brown (18/12/2014, 23:59) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    IT WILL BE A SIN TO NAME THIS OFF DR. SMITH HE HAS BEEN A WASTE OF TIME AND DONE NOTHING FOR THE BVI AS PREMIER
  • Dulcina (19/12/2014, 00:44) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Absolutely a fitting tribute to a son of the soil and also a tribute to these VI.
    And so it is and will be the D. Orlando Smith Medical Center.
  • Why (19/12/2014, 01:23) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why we renaming it we forgot what pebbles did or after years we are free to change name. Are we going to change adina Donovan to to Lorna Smith home strupes
  • Change it back (19/12/2014, 08:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Call it what you like- VIP will pass a law and change it right back - Stupes-
  • dog (20/12/2014, 00:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think it rather ill-timed that the question of naming the hospital after the current premier was presented in public without private discussions. It is embarrassing to all involved and starts fights for the right. It creates a range war. Poor judgement on behalf of the minister to try and force the issue.
  • joe (22/12/2014, 22:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree that the Honourable Ralph T O'Neal OBE (R 9) is a worthy candidate for the naming of the New Hospital.



Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.