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No more room! Home for elderly maxed out-SFC

- Hon Ronnie W. Skelton contradicts the Premier on state of the economy in cancellation of new home for the elderly
Acting Manager of the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly Mrs Jacqueline Donovan (inset) told the House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee that there wasn’t room for anyone else at the facility. Photo: VINO/File
What remains an ironic contradiction and a tale of two cities is that Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (left) and his leader, Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, seem to differ on the state of the economy. Photo: VINO/File
What remains an ironic contradiction and a tale of two cities is that Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (left) and his leader, Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, seem to differ on the state of the economy. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly continues to be filled to capacity as there is no room to accept anyone else.

This information was confirmed while the Acting Manager of the Home, Mrs Jacqueline Donovan, was testifying last year before the House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee as they examined the draft estimates for the year 2015.

When asked by the subject Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, on the number of residents and beds at the Adina Donovan Home, the Ag Manager told lawmakers that “there were 24 beds and 24 residents”.

In addition, Mrs Donovan made it clear that there were no “spare beds”.

The Member for the Third District, Honourable Julian Fraser RA, often referred to by pundits as the Premier in waiting, asked when the last resident had arrived, to which the Manager answered October 27, 2014.

Hon Fraser also inquired of the amount of persons on the waiting list. Mrs Donovan indicated that there were five (5) persons at the hospital and an additional two (2) persons outside of the hospital for a total of seven (7).

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Mrs Petrona N. Davies, who’s Ministry the home falls under, was also at the hearing. She told the Committee she was in discussion with the BVI Health Services Authority on having a dependent care unit at the hospital for persons who are non-ambulatory.

NDP’s broken promises to our seniors

During the 2011 election campaign, the now ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) administration of Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith promised the elderly that they would construct a new home for them in Spooner’s Estate.

Once elected, they broke their promises to the elderly residents last year when Minister Skelton announced that the project would not happen because “government cannot do everything”.

“Because of economic conditions we have put it on a go slow because we can’t do everything; we don’t have the money to do it,” The Health and Social Development Minister declared last year on a National Democratic Party radio programme.

What remains an ironic contradiction and a tale of two cities is that Hon Skelton’s leader, Premier Smith, continues to claim that the economy is robust and things are booming.

25 Responses to “No more room! Home for elderly maxed out-SFC”

  • lie (09/01/2015, 15:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some one is telling tales
  • CGB resident (09/01/2015, 16:45) Like (14) Dislike (4) Reply
    Really,, really,, and you believe this.. yet they have money for the extended cruise ship dock. potential air strip, improve the roads in RT, they spent $100,000 ion whether we should have drag racing here and they can't find a place for the elderly,, how pathetic…truly truly pathetic, I hope some of these politicians have no place to go when they become too elderly to care for themselves… hind sight!!!
  • harriette (09/01/2015, 16:47) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    who really made her wear that wig lord man mirror mash up. is she from guyana?
    • Meli (09/01/2015, 19:29) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      @harriette, That is very small minded of you! Address the issue at hand and stop being so petty. BTW she is from right here!
    • @ hariette (10/01/2015, 12:12) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      Let me inform you or educate you a bit when it comes to wig, hair, or anything in that nature Guyana outshines. Don't dis Guyanese.
    • @ hariette (10/01/2015, 12:12) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      Let me inform you or educate you a bit when it comes to wig, hair, or anything in that nature Guyana outshines. Don't dis Guyanese.
      • Really! (10/01/2015, 17:30) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
        Check the Chinese hair, you ain't outshine nothing. Go take a back seat with your twoooo-fiftay!
        • voter (10/01/2015, 18:33) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
          it might be Indonesian I hear Peruvian and Brazilian are the best wigs out there.

          Why she still acting? What wickedness is this? Appoint the woman to the post if she good enough to act for over a year!
  • goat water (09/01/2015, 16:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well sir
  • comeon (09/01/2015, 17:38) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Really, any one that believe/expect a govt will do everything it said it will do within its for first term is crazy.
  • Macnamara (09/01/2015, 22:15) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why doesn't someone think about extending the already attractively situated senior citizen's centre - plenty room on the government land right next to it. Better use than a car park and such a great position for the older generation and their families. Cannot possibly cost that much and far more use to aging population than a jet airport.
  • Well (09/01/2015, 22:59) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    VIP always bragging about their 40 years. What happened to the elderly for those times. I just have to smile. They balling to give govt workers increment for nothing but nothing for the elderly.sick
    • @ Well (10/01/2015, 07:56) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
      i have to smile too as NDP promised to fix it but did nothing for the pople for three years only for them selves...BAM
  • judge (10/01/2015, 08:27) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    How can NDP break a promise and their term isn't finish? You all acting like they can finish everything in 3 years. Give the people a chance to do their job
    • onlooker 2 (10/01/2015, 10:42) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
      We need to stop putting our mothers and Fathers there.They are the ones who bring us here.Give us life,take care of us.Now we are big men and women,living our life and for get all about them Sad really Sad This one hit me Hard.We need to take care of mommy and daddy.Not the Government. Cause our turn coming.Do u really want our kids to put us there and for get all about us ,Do u
  • 1 (10/01/2015, 11:23) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Deeds ppl need to take care of their parents
  • onlooker (10/01/2015, 21:25) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    When parents sacrifice sooo much for their children why they have to be sent to a a home? Children should be ashamed to have the Government take care of their parents while they are enjoying life to its fullest just waiting for their parents to die to collect their inheritance.

    The Government should seize their property and not giving it to those worthless children
  • ........ (11/01/2015, 08:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Onlooker is so correct tell it like it is!!!
  • ta ta (11/01/2015, 09:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well saw that is all i will say for now
  • onlooker (12/01/2015, 07:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When my mom was sick with a stroke I took her to a home for a few months so she could get some therapy then I took her out and pay some helpers to look after her for the last 6 years of her life. So when I'm speaking I spoke from personal experience . I hope that children take more time out for their parents you never know what can befall you. So please children take care of your parents and do not leave them for the Government to. You never know what will happen to you
    • apple (12/01/2015, 10:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ onlook, Blessing to you for taking care of your Mom. The thing is; How could one mother take care of all her children? After the children grown big and successful in society.
      My Question is. How can't all those successful child take care of one mother? Instead of putting her in a home.
      I just cannot understand some children. (just Pay someone to take care of your parent at your home if you don't have the time). Give the Government a break and freeup some space in the Home for the Elderly.


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