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

UPDATE: Hon O’Neal airlifted to Florida, USA hospital

Former Premier Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE (seen here flanked by his youngest daughter Abbey O'Neal, left, and wife Reverend Edris O'Neal OBE at the Queen's Birthday Parade in April 2016, was reportedly flown to a medical facility in Florida, USA a few days ago. Photo: VINO/File
Former Chief Minster and Premier of the Virgin Islands Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE (left) remains a patient at Peebles Hospital, however, preparations are reportedly underway to take him overseas for enhanced medical treatment. Photo: VINO/File
Former Chief Minster and Premier of the Virgin Islands Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE (left) remains a patient at Peebles Hospital, however, preparations are reportedly underway to take him overseas for enhanced medical treatment. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE at the BVI Seventh-day Adventist School’s Class of 2016 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday July 3, 2016 at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Tentorium at Paraquita Bay. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE at the BVI Seventh-day Adventist School’s Class of 2016 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday July 3, 2016 at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Tentorium at Paraquita Bay. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Word reaching our newsroom following our publication on October 7, 2016 is that former Premier Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE was airlifted to a Florida, USA hospital a few days ago.

This information was also confirmed by sources at Peebles Hospital. Reports are that Hon O’Neal is recuperating well at the overseas medical facility.

The territory’s first Premier suffered a stroke on Friday September 30, 2016, according to a statement from his youngest daughter Abby O'Neal, who also thanked the local hospital staff for their professionalism during her father’s stay.

See previous article published October 7, 2016

Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE still @ Peebles Hospital

- Preparations ongoing to fly him overseas for further medical attention

The territory’s first Premier, 82-year-old Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE who suffered a stroke on Friday September 30, 2016, according to a statement from his youngest Daughter Abby O'Neal, remains a patient at Peebles Hospital in Road Town, the Virgin Islands capital city.

As of publication time, preparations were still being made to fly the former Chief Minister and Premier, who steered the Virgin Islands through many of its most prosperous times, overseas for enhanced medical treatment.

The details of the overseas arrangements have not been disclosed to the public.

In a statement on October 4, 2016, the family of Hon O’Neal expressed gratitude to the medical and administrative staff of Peebles Hospital, who they said “displayed exemplary professionalism and care for which the family are most grateful".

Many accomplishments

Hon O’Neal has served in every Ministry in government except the now Ministry of Communications and Works, and became Chief Minister in 1995 after the death of late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt.

He represented the 9th district for some 40 years (1975-2015).

It is Hon O’Neal who is directly responsible for well over 90% of all developments on Virgin Gorda and Anegada, from the many roads cut and paved, schools and clinics, police stations, post office, water, electricity, Government Administration Complex and docks, along with being in a position to approve many of the private sector developments on both Virgin Gorda and Anegada.

One of Hon O’Neal’s lasting legacies is the creation of the London Office, now the BVI House, to secure the Virgin Islands’ interest in the United Kingdom and the European Union. His Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration is also responsible for much of the development of the Virgin Islands, from the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, the new Queen Elizabeth Bridge, the Commercial Court, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the awarding of Crown lands to residents to build their first home on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada to name a few.

The VIP led Administration built the first Cruise Ship Dock on Wickham’s Cay, introduced the clinic and community centre system throughout the Virgin Islands, which included the  construction of all the community centres and schools from Anegada to Virgin Gorda and Tortola.

Alongside the late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt (R1), it was the VIP with Hon O’Neal that also developed the scholarship system whereby students are sent off to college paid for by the state. This system has educated some 5 generations of Virgin Islanders.

13 Responses to “UPDATE: Hon O’Neal airlifted to Florida, USA hospital”

  • Xxx (07/10/2016, 20:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope they get him out soon
  • huh (07/10/2016, 21:25) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    pompi flew out with gas pains
  • Andrew Cox Sr (07/10/2016, 21:43) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    to the family of Hon RT Oneal continue to take care of him because he is very valuable to these Virgin Islands.
  • VG (08/10/2016, 06:47) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    Uncle Ralph is the real deal get well soon
  • watching (08/10/2016, 07:11) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Best wishes and prayers
  • voter (08/10/2016, 08:19) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
    They want to send him to some third rate two star "in JIPA Network" hospital. Yet the Chinese Minister gets the best of the best. Get well soon uncle Ralphie!
  • 1 (08/10/2016, 18:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    good news
  • tia (08/10/2016, 21:51) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get well soon mr O'Neal.
  • Trust Me (09/10/2016, 10:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    He will be safer up there
  • Wonder (10/10/2016, 10:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Uncle Ralph get well soon. We need your book on these Virgin Islands and your family needs you.
  • lucky him (12/10/2016, 19:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are families that pleaded to be flown out for immediate care from Peebles and yet Peebles waited until things were too late to act. Only if you are important enough you will get good treatment. I'm happy that Mr O'Neal got out before it was too late but I am still NOT over how Peebles treats other families. There will become a day when they will have to be held accountable to those underprivileged families. There will be a voice for the unspoken.


Create a comment


Create a 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.