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Renewed calls for VG Hospital after student's stabbing

- Knives prevalent in schools
Premier Smith stated that plans for a hospital on VG is actively in the works. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The unfortunate stabbing of a Bregado Flax Educational Centre student yesterday, June 19, 2012 has renewed the plea for a modernised health facility in Virgin Gorda since the student, who was in a critical condition, had to be rushed to Peebles Hospital on Tortola.

A VG resident expressed his concern on NDP Radio last evening where he highlighted that the injured teenager was initially treated at the Iris O’Neal Clinic on Virgin Gorda, but due to the seriousness of the injury, he had to be transferred to Peebles.

It is reported that the student was stabbed in his chest.

“...which means we should have this Hospital up here, so when somebody has a life threatening wound instead of trying to keep him alive until they get to Road Town....the surgery can be done right here [in Virgin Gorda],” the caller charged.

In response to this, Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith disclosed that the Minister for Health has assured him that plans are well underway towards the realisation of a new Hospital on VG.

He added, “The designs are being actively looked at so before the end of this year VG would see action as far as this project is concerned.”

Knives in schools

At a recent PTA meeting he attended on VG, the caller added, the Principal came out with about 30 to 40 knives in a bag that was taken from students over a period of time.

“One of those knives came into play this afternoon and was stick into somebody’s chest,” he pointed out.

15 Responses to “Renewed calls for VG Hospital after student's stabbing”

  • WAKE UP NDP (19/06/2012, 08:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we need one in VG SINCE 1960, THIS IS 2012 WHEN CAN WE SEE SOME KIND OF PROGRESS, ALL I SEEN IT BUSH GROW & BUSH CUT,BUSH GROW & BUSH GROW,THE BUSH GET CUT BEFORE NOVEMBER 7TH OF LAST YEAR, ABD NOW BUSH GROW BACK.............WHEN WILL THE BUSH GET CUT AND A FOUNDATION START TO BUILD? I GUESS IT WILL HAPPEN AFTER A WHITE MAN GET HURT ON VG AND DIED ON VG AND HAVING HIS FAMILY FROM THE U.S.A OR U.K SUE THE GOVERNMENT HUMMMMMMMMMMM LET'S HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPEN, BUT WE DO NEED A *H.O.S.P.I.T.A.L*
    • Really (19/06/2012, 09:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Really, think about it, does this make sense. St. John which has a much larger population than VG does not have a hospital. Furthermore, if I can recall there was an article yesterday by the Heath Service Chairman stating that we have millions of uncollected money from Peebles Hospital. Who is going to fund this new hospital? Who is going to equip it, staff it and maint it? We have to look at the big picture. Upgrade the clinics on the sister islands, put adequate staff on duty and on call to ensure we can meet the needs of the people. Upgrade the transportation to the main island (get an ambulance boat or a heliport). There are ways we can improve without putting the country in unnecessary final hardship. We are already going to build an airport that will be a financial hardship to the territory. Let us think logically before we jump. We must be cognizant of the changes being implement.
    • Albion (19/06/2012, 14:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree as well - there are, what, 2000 people living on VG? That is just too small to sustain its own hospital. We can barely afford to sustain a hospital in Road Town. VG got so many special privileges for years because Ralphie looks after his own. But VG is a small place and it needs to accept that on a small island you cannot have the same facilities as on a big island.
  • Jag (19/06/2012, 09:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need some metal detectors in the high schools.
  • ready or not here i come (19/06/2012, 09:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    what damm hospital for VG and we cannot even get one for Tola??/
  • critic (19/06/2012, 09:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    all vg needs right now is a trauma center....lets finish the hospital on tortola first before starting a next one
  • Confucius (19/06/2012, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Of more concern than building a hospital on Virgin Gorda (which is a very big reach at this point) ~ I'd like to know why the heck the principal has 30 to 40 knives that have been taken from students! What the heck is going on? It is unbelievable that so many school children are walking around with weapons at school! I can't stop shaking my head! Why isn't EVERYONE worried about that little fact, more so than how to treat wounds caused by weapons they shouldn't have in the first place! These children are out of control and living in a completely different world than the rest of us! We desperately need to get things with our young people under control and I am begging our government to act on this very grave problem immediately. Anyone caught with a lethal weapon of any kind MUST be dealt with swiftly and harshly. GET IT DONE and stop dragging your heals! One more life lost ~ is one too many!
    • billyb (19/06/2012, 11:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Confucius, I am shocked at you. It should be obvious that the principal is keeping these knives for "shock value" purposes; to let folks (parents) realize the serious challenges they face on a daily basis. If the principal showed us one or two knives, we tend to shrug our shoulder as say, "oh, so what's the big deal?", but this is not the case. The enormous amount of knives drives home the point. Another thing, you don't think the government has enough on their hand?????? Schools have a principal for a reason, they should be quite capable of spearheading some kind of initiative that can address this problem. So you just need to calm yourself down.
      • Confucius (19/06/2012, 12:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Billyb, with all due respect ~ go take a flying leap! I will not calm myself. It is outrageous that these violent events continue to happen and that even one child carried a knife to school! All we ever get from our elected officials is LIP SERVICE. They talk and talk about things like curfews and more meaningful gun laws, ~ but we have yet to see even one meaningful step forward. Children are attacking other children at school! Children are robbing homes, businesses and tourists armed with guns and other offensive weapons! Armed would be robbers (barely old enough to drive) are being gunned down in parking lots by vigilantes with yet more illegal weapons! Then along comes Billyb in all his wisdom telling me to calm myself!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? What is wrong with all of us??? Why isn't every single one of us SCREAMING at the top of our lungs at our elected officials to get off their you-know-whats and rein in the violence that is destroying our community? WHEN will the powers that be stop talking and talking and talking and finally DO SOMETHING about all this violence and the nasty little gansta culture that seems to be growing exponentially from within! Get that curfew in place right NOW! Revise the laws regarding the possession of offensive weapons and the use of offensive weapons during the commission of a crime in place RIGHT NOW! STOP allowing the judiciary to give violent offenders the usual slap on the wrist and show these violent offenders that we are not going to take it any more! WHEN will we stop being so damned complacent and demand that our elected officials straighten up the mess that they have allowed to carry on for far too long? Be as shocked as you like Billyb ~ I am damned mad and YOU should be too!
  • tell the truth (19/06/2012, 12:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Deception, deception NDP please tell the people of VG them aint getting NO Hospital


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