The Virgin Islands will pause on Monday evening to honour a man whose name is already written into the Territory’s healthcare story former Premier, surgeon and public servant Dr D. Orlando Smith. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The Ministry of Health and Social Development and the BVI Health Services Authority will host a commemoration ceremony at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, celebrating decades of service that helped shape modern healthcare in the Territory. Photo: Governement of the Virgin Islands

The Ministry of Health and Social Development and the BVI Health Services Authority will host a commemoration ceremony at 6:00 PM at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, celebrating decades of service that helped shape modern healthcare in the Territory.

The ceremony comes seven years after the former Peebles Hospital was officially renamed in Dr Smith’s honour in January 2019, a lasting recognition of his pioneering efforts to expand and improve healthcare for Virgin Islanders.

From physician to national leader

Long before he entered political life, Dr Smith was a familiar presence in the operating theatre and on hospital wards. He served at the former Peebles Hospital as a Medical Officer, Senior Registrar of Surgery and Surgeon, before becoming the Territory’s Chief Medical Officer from 1979 to 1995.

His career was marked by service at a time when resources were limited, but the need for skilled, compassionate care was great. Permanent Secretary Tasha K. Bertie said Dr Smith worked alongside fellow healthcare professionals to strengthen health services and provide care for the community throughout those challenging years.

A hospital that carries his name

The tribute is also a reflection on the institution itself. What began as the Cottage Hospital in 1922 has grown into today’s Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, a modern healthcare facility that represents generations of investment, dedication and leadership.

“Our hospital has a rich history, dating back to the establishment of the Cottage Hospital in 1922,” Ms Bertie said. “From its early beginnings to the modern healthcare facility we have today, its development reflects the dedication of generations of healthcare professionals and leaders who have worked to improve healthcare for our people.”

A ceremony of remembrance & gratitude

Monday’s event will bring together Government officials, healthcare professionals, family members, community partners and residents. The programme will include tributes, reflections on the hospital’s evolution, and a special presentation honouring Dr Smith’s service and legacy.

For many in the Virgin Islands, the occasion is more than a formal ceremony. It is a chance to recognise a leader whose work touched lives long before he held public office and whose influence continues each time patients walk through the doors of the hospital that bears his name.

The public is invited to attend the commemoration on Monday, 16 November, at 6:00 PM at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital.