Cabinet approved Bishop Cline to chair BVIHSA Board
Bishop John Cline was a loud critic of the Virgin Islands Party of Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Information reaching this news site from its team of reporters around the Virgin Islands and its well placed sources within the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has confirmed that controversial religious and social activist Bishop John I. Cline has been approved by the Orlando Smith Cabinet at a meeting held on Thursday January 19, 2012 to become the new Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority Board.
The appointment now heads to the House of Assembly for final approval as Cline will replace Attorney and former Financial Secretary Glenroy Forbes.
However, according to the same source, the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, had registered his objections to the recommendation. Under the BVI Health Services Act, the Leader of the Opposition must be consulted on the appointment of the Chairman of the Board, but does not have a veto on government’s decision as to the appointment.
Bishop John I. Cline, who pastors the New Life Baptist Church in Duff Bottom on Tortola, was a loud critic of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government of former Premier Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, and also levied most of his harshest political rhetoric against former Communications and Works Minister Honourable Julian Fraser RA.
He campaigned vigorously for many of the NDP candidates including Claude Skelton-Cline who ran against political stalwart Honourable J. Alvin Christopher for the second district seat and Kevin Smith who was defeated by 3rd district representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA.
Cline also appeared on many talk shows, both on radio and TV, lashing out at the VIP Government policies including the Biwater project that was signed by the O’Neal Administration to remedy the water and sewerage woes on Tortola. He is also one of the religious leaders asked from time to time to give the opening prayer for the starting of the Virgin Islands (VI) Parliament sittings.
The Cabinet Paper was advanced by Health Minister Ronnie W. Skelton (left) and it is now expected to pass in the HOA despite the objections by Opposition Leader Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.
Virgin Islands News Online sources inside the Smith Administration has also told this news site that allegedly, as a result of that objection by the Opposition Leader, the Cabinet Paper advanced by Health Minister Ronnie W. Skelton may have been deferred, but returned to the agenda for last Thursday’s January 19, meeting and was approved by all members.
The BVI Health Services Authority (BHSA) through its Board is responsible for developing and marketing the local health services while at the same time encouraging involvement with the community that will serve the best interests of both the Authority and the VI community. The Authority is also responsible for all the public health facilities in the VI.
Last year, the BVIHSA came under fire after a baby, who was allegedly born dead, was cremated without the permission of the parents. The Board later admitted that this occurred because the body was accidentally removed from the morgue and cremated due to a procedural error. It also was in the spot light after the former Health Minister Dancia Penn QC directed that the Financial Comptroller Ursula Wilson a Trinidadian national on contract be fired, but the Chairman Glenroy Forbes delayed carrying out those instructions.
Bishop Cline was a strong critic of the Biwater project that was signed by the O’Neal Administration to remedy the water and sewerage woes on Tortola.
The BVI Health Services Authority was established under the BVI Health Services Authority Act, 2004. Its functions include the recruitment, appointment, training, promotion and disciplining, along with the power to suspend and terminate employment of staff members.
43 Responses to “Cabinet approved Bishop Cline to chair BVIHSA Board”
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He should be well in that post….but it is my wish for all MEN & WOMEN of the gospel to stay in their churches and concentrate on grooming, guiding and advising where God has planted them.
Blah Blah et al. Do you think that a paster should be handsomely paid for preaching the gospel? A lot of people do not believe this – so if they do not work who will care for their families? Check out what the bible says about a man taking care of his family.
Well said
BLAH BLAH BLAH all u doing is BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH Ralph is right he is a crook from morning and the objection is good he 2 want high pay while we salary cut. NDP has turn back 2 their old ways of 2003-2007 Lord have mercy on us.
Have you guys stopped long enough to realize this man do more for the country than the government?
He hires locals
He mentors the youths
He provide opportunities for the youths
He very seldom says no to anyone in need
He sponsor numerous local events, I can go on and on
I can even risk to say, the last government owes him tons of money
I am almost certain, if they ask Cline to fill this post free of charge, he will
What did the VIP do? Fill their pockets at our expense
Pay themselves to live in their own house
Give themselves a raise, on and on and on
Now because NDP is filling posts with individuals who are willing to give us value for dollar, HEAR THE NOISE
The folks that have been hired as of late should be working for much more, but is willing to make the sacrifice for their country (unlike what the VIP did) and YOU STILL HEARING NOISE
NDP, do what you have to do, because if Doc Smith was to win a grandprize of a trillion dollars and hire ALL the unemployed, improve on tourism, make the taxi man dem happy, do all he could to comfort the residents of this territory, you know what will happen??????
YOU WILL STILL HEAR NOISE
Doc, you can’t please everybody
If you send all VIP employees home and still give them a paycheck for the rest of their lives
YOU WILL STILL HEAR NOISE (although they home in dem house getting the same paycheck)
VIP supporters are supporters to the bone, and no matter what you do for them, they will stay that way
VIP could be cutting dem throat with a knife, they will turn and tell them ( the VIP) the knife too dull.
Is he a doctor, what does he knows about health and they services, please get it real he is your mentor not mine he is always in things. My God have mercy on our souls
To Jazz you do not have to be a doctor to run a Health Care Institution. The role of the Chairman of the Board is an administrative post. Therefore, an individual charged with such responsiblity should have significant managerial experence. The Same thing goes for the CEO position, that is way I do not think Dr. Georges is the best fit for the position of CEO of the BVIHSA.
I believe that Mr. Cline is a good pick for the Chairman of the Board. Let’s give him a chance and see what will happen going forward.
Well said.
You need to shut the hell up! The company he is affiliated with collected over a million plus dollars just last year from the same government he is bashing
shut up!
another one on the government breast again…those nipples got to be sore by now
i’m also willing to bet that he will supply all the stationary to the hospital…any bets?
That was done by the former employee from Trinidad, and no one complained. When she arrived here the hospital was getting stationery from a supplier and she changed it to her company in Trinidad. Go take a hike.
this is just pay back for cline and is campaign to get rid of the VIP
What? Putting this joker in charge of the HSA? If it were left to him he’d be praying for cures, not science and medicine.
What foolishness!
@what.
And the problem with that would be????????
It doesnt work – this is the 21st century where we know better than to believe in fairy tales from 2000 years ago. Though having said that many of you are still brainwashed and simple enough to be taken in by all this religious tripe.
@johnno aka Alred, our territory don’t have room for athiests. The government need to protect themselve against people like you who will do just like Madalyn Murray O’hair who fought diligently to take prayer out of American government schools, and I am going to make it a point to pull as many politicians aside and make them aware of you. Our children don’t need to be hearing this hogwash. This country was built on the foundation of prayer warriors and people like you are the strayed roots with a mission to crack and destroy that foundation, but if we have anything to do with it, that wouldn’t work. People, children, folks whoever you are, when you go abroad, take the teaching of your parents with you and stop allow people of other cults lead you astray and then you come back home here chatting froth and changing our beliefs.
Guess rumours of a persons character do die down after a while
It is starting to get upsetting how many NDP cronies are getting dropped into top jobs. I am wondering if all this talk about VIP wasting money is just to distract the people from the NDP promoting all their favourites into positions of power (at the taxpayer’s expense).
They not doing anything that the VIP Governemnt have not done. At least they looking out for their own.
Well, if they re going to immitate every bad move that the VIP made, what makes them any better for our country? Time does tell. The NDP has not changed a bit.
So that does not mean the VIP was in the right. We all complain how the VIP did us wrong and you telling me the NDP is about to do the same thing. What would we expect, wouldn’t it be the same VIP negative result or worst! screwppssssss.
I can’t say whether this is a good appointment or not, jury is still out! But you sound so stupid! The post is filled now and would need to be filled regardless so what do you mean “at taxpayers expense!”. Regardless of which Government got in power that position as well as the others recently awarded would need to be filled “AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE!”. What’s the difference? What should matter is whether the job is getting done and we’re getting value for money. Let’s see what will happen before pouncing like a set of pitbulls on hog flesh!! I never saw any of you people on here posting when REAL foolishness was going on months and years ago, but all of a sudden you did house cleaning and found your conscience? Give it a rest! I could care less who they appoint as long as they get the damn job done!! They should start appointing expats to these posts let me see what you would do then, just simply bitter and disgusting!! Schuupps!
real talk stay in england and do not return!…you are not missed
Wrong choice!!! Let him stay in the church!
This is not right…he already has a job…where are the positions for the unemployed?? Theses moves just look like revenge!!
Wait a minute…….hold up……We putting a man of GOD into a position of science?………….Ohhhh nooo!….Help us all!
LOL, enjoy your 4 years NDP.
“PIMP” let us get Cline to pray that they will make it for four years~!!!
Either way, some major event will happen in Tola within the four years. Doubt a full term will be served!
good pick go John
From reading the blogs, I do believe there is a need for the general public to be educated about the role of chairman as it relates to any Board in the BVI. The Chairman is a non-executive member, he or she is not directly involved in the day to day operation of the Business. Some Boards meet on a monthly basis and this is where the chairman wil be updated on th process of the organization. Therfore, the non-sense that I am reading in the blogs that Mr. Kline is taking job, please tell me how this makes sense. Further, each member of the Board is nornally, given a stipend it is no more that $1,000 per month. Again, please explain to me how $1,000 could ever make a dent in Mr. Kline’s pocket. To accept these positions an individual must have love for this country, becasue it is little pay for high expectations. So please understand the process before you pass judgement.
Thank you!! Some of the Board members are not even paid that much! LOL! But these people don’t let FACTS get in their way! They’re like the Republicans in the USA. They through out seasoned red meat and the idiots eat it up and lick their fingers like it’s free lunch, not realizing that they’re being taken for a ride!!
So my girl you don’t think partner should keep on saving as much souls because there is much souls to save. Board membership would just be a distraction just for an extra buck to go trick with?
Let me enlighten you reader: it might not be that he will be getting a hugh paycheck however he might just reap from the benefits of selling electronics to the hospital, remember he already have the complex on- lock with his energy saving light bulbs. Getting his company or a fiticious company is no big deal, thats where the real money is!!!!!!
Hmmm, you got your facts right… Some people just need to do research before jumping on here like bulls. Some of the people in the BVI just makes me wonder, when I read some of the statments being displayed on here. Most of them just make me shake my head and say “WELL SA”
Love NDP or hate them they take care of their supporters that man work hard for NDP he is a Ronnie boy so no surprise here people.
lol CHARLETON! SILVER TONGUE…lol SNAKE OIL salesman…But goood show on your hustle cause you about to get PAID cause that offering plate aint doing it for you.
Is this church boy qualified for the position?????. How in Jesus name you can give a pastor a position of medicine?…NDP you all gone mad and its not even the first year yet….
who Cline?? to Chair what???? my lil lil country needs prayer. It was only a matter of time before the people turn aginst the NDP….
vino hast off you all have a spy in the NDP..i see now the NDP site platinum following you all trying to come back with a story after the facts…go VINO continue to break the news
well saw look melee at hospital