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Talk show host against renaming Peebles Hospital after Premier Smith

Peebles Hospital was founded in 1922 by Major Peebles and was originally known as the Cottage Hospital. It was renamed after Major Peebles in the 1950s but was briefly renamed the HR Penn Hospital before reverting to its current name. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson
It was on July 27, 2015 during the official opening of the 2015 Patsy C. Lake Festiville in Road Town that Mrs Lake called on the Government of the Virgin Islands to give Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith his
It was on July 27, 2015 during the official opening of the 2015 Patsy C. Lake Festiville in Road Town that Mrs Lake called on the Government of the Virgin Islands to give Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith his "flowers" while he is around to appreciate them by naming the new Peebles Hospital after him. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Host of the radio talk show ‘A look at the Community’, Ulric Scatliffe is not in favour of a recent suggestion to rename Peebles Hospital after Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith, who has served many years at the hospital as a surgeon.

It was on July 27, 2015 during the official opening of the 2015 Patsy C. Lake Festiville in Road Town that Mrs Lake called on the Government of the Virgin Islands to give Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith his "flowers" while he is around to appreciate them by naming the new Peebles Hospital after him.

According to Mrs Lake, Dr Smith has spent all his life at Peebles Hospital and he needs to know that the people of the territory truly appreciate him.

However, Mr Scatliffe doesn’t believe the hospital should be renamed and noted that if buildings are continued to be named after one person then there would soon be no buildings to name after persons who would have made invaluable contributions to the Virgin Islands.

“I don’t think we want the hospital to be named in his honour,” said Mr Scatliffe on his radio programme on ZBVI 780 AM on Saturday August 8, 2015.

“Dr Smith was and still is a very good surgeon and most of his tenure at the hospital was in the surgical area and what better to do than name the theatre or surgical ward after Dr Smith,” Mr Scatliffe opined.

Nothing that there are many other stalwarts who would have made contributions to the medical field in the Virgin Islands, Mr Scatliffe said there are not enough buildings to name after such people hence the need to name departments and wards instead.

Meanwhile, Mrs Lake had suggested that a wing of the hospital be named after Major Peebles.

"We could then give Major Peebles a wing...there are lots of wings in that hospital," she said, noting that everyone who contributed in a meaningful way to the construction of the hospital should be recognised by a wing being named after them.

Peebles Hospital was founded in 1922 by Major Peebles and was originally known as the Cottage Hospital. It was renamed after Major Peebles in the 1950s but was briefly renamed the HR Penn Hospital before reverting to its current name.

 

22 Responses to “Talk show host against renaming Peebles Hospital after Premier Smith”

  • Too soon (17/08/2015, 16:09) Like (4) Dislike (124) Reply
    Good Idea--I have to disagree at this time. If he wins next election, then it is fitting to consider the name change.. Ronnie should be considered also if he wins next election as minister of health. Ronnie did a great job of Running NHI through Social security--excellent--All he needs to do now is to shake that Board up. that I am back on Train.
    • usucke (18/08/2015, 08:02) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      nhi is a joke i would rather get my own coverage than be forced to pick up the government's crappy option, this is suppose to be a democracy not a dictatorship
  • Strups (17/08/2015, 16:36) Like (61) Dislike (4) Reply
    Everybody & them grandmother want their name on something around here, from a street sign to a building. The hospital already have a FITTING name
    • jtv (18/08/2015, 08:39) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      name off Myron hahahahaha hehehehehe
      • Strups (18/08/2015, 11:01) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
        Lord jtv you gone from bad to worse LOL. These ppl sickening now man. They come, they meet, they want to take over and plaster their names all over. Places like the college rightfully deserves the name it has because it was Lavity's idea and he pushed to have it implemented while some of the same ppl who in gov now & otrs who have left fought tooth & nail against him now today each & every last one of them walking around bout they proud of the college. As to the hospital, when Major Peebles came here and built it from the ground up where were they. Today now because they done squander the millions & millions they believe it warrants their names plastered all over it GTFOH. There's history in the name Peebles not these johnny come lately. I grew up hearing my grandparents tell stories about Cottage Hospital & it's what I've passed on to my children today. Give it a rest ppl.
  • dog (17/08/2015, 16:59) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    old historical names remind people of who contributed to the territory. I think it is premature to name the hospital after Dr Smith if at all. Major Peebles had much more hardship in establishing a hospital in 1922. Think about it. People coming in on donkeys. We are slowly sanitizing history for ego. I bet Ms Lake is waiting for her statue even though she had the village named after her. And the good doctor has given her special dispensation over the years.
  • @ Too soon (17/08/2015, 17:16) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    You got to be on crack! Good Job? Wait till the horror stories start to surface! NHI
  • Voter Too (17/08/2015, 17:37) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let the name remain as it is but one can allow for one of the wings to be named after the good doctor(s).
  • Music (17/08/2015, 17:53) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    If you must go along with giving personal names to places, do it after they are dead!
  • Too soon (17/08/2015, 18:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    hahahahaha. NHI Control by social security is good, its credible, 10 times better than if the bias, selfish, heartless board were doing it. For that you have to give Ronnie Credit... Its a very good start in the right direction. little
    hick-ups will sort out as we go a long. Just imagine you having a serious illness with out insurance---That will be your horror story. Oh and if Dr. Smith and NDP wins another election, he is deserving of a name plate some where in the BVI
  • bvi (17/08/2015, 19:48) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    Ulric looks like he jealous. He going soon say he want his name on the woodwork shop at Elmore Stoutt HS
  • wize up (17/08/2015, 21:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    dream up a list of persons that we need to name buildings after, then allow the registered voters make the final decision
  • qc (17/08/2015, 22:20) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    name the ting off ralph T oneal
  • leave well enough alone (17/08/2015, 22:44) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The building already has a name...Name that none revenue generating new queen elizabeth park after him.
    • Lookhere (18/08/2015, 10:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Name the Queen Elizabeth Park Off Ralph T. O'Neal. It is close to his house. Can any of our people's names be found on an edifice in UK? Try take off that God Save Our Gracious Queen Name off places in Tortola. If all you only know the history of those people -- put Ralphie's name on Queen Elizabeth Park.
  • that make sense (17/08/2015, 23:51) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Strupzz ...name surgical ward off him ob doc pickerimg welcome center off hon Ralph t oneal cause vip started tht hospital .even lavitiy stoutt cud get his name there too instead saying 4th floor name them .in honou.r of the good ones .name a place off like a hospital off somebody tht person have to do a sacrifice .or gave up something valuable to save tht place in particular .what did any of them do .to name tht hospital off jus 1 individual.think this is a hotel .hope it the governer have any say he let u all know ppl work to earn these vaules
  • Carli (18/08/2015, 02:32) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree with Ulric this time. The name should remain and something else named in honour of Dr. smith at some point and time. Let Patsy and her opinion go take a hike. History is not cannot be erased or replaced.
    • wize up (18/08/2015, 08:23) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      name the thing: "Virgin Islands General Hospital" ( it is the property of the Virgin Islands people).....naming it after Dr Smith is not such a bad idea because he contributed to the development of the hospital with his surgical skills: one could consider naming the admin complex after Hon RT O'Neal because Mr O'Neal give many years to the administrative development of the territory:.....I think that we should recognize those that brought this territory to what we have today( I personally know back them life and development of this territory was a great challenge)
  • in the news (18/08/2015, 11:02) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ms. Lajke need to stop
  • Pundit (18/08/2015, 12:03) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    The D. Orlando Smith Medical Center. I LIKE IT.........................
    • Looking on (18/08/2015, 15:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Pundit: take off the and put on Hon D. Orlando Smith Hospital.
  • Lily Ann (20/08/2015, 10:32) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    With all this NHI fiasco ... the last thing BVI people want to be stressed with is the Name Change of the Hospital. .. but I like that name "Pundit" and "Looking On" I hope they choose either one !!!! ... Premier Smith is my Premier for LIFE !!!!!


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