BVIEC GM speaks out on disconnecting power supply of BVIHSA
This matter was brought up during Talking Points on Monday, September 8, 2025, by Co-host Damion C. Grange, an employee of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA).
Some health clinics had their electricity supply disconnected by the BVIEC due to millions of dollars owed in electricity bills.
“The BVIHSA owed you some money, and you took a really hard stance with the BVIHSA. Are you taking similar stances with other agencies and persons or companies that owe you?” Grange asked.
BVIEC didn’t say much then
Dr Smith said the BVIEC had not said much regarding the situation with the BVIHSA back in 2024, but he was now taking the opportunity to address the matter.
He explained that when he came into the BVIEC, the BVIHSA owed the corporation 5.5 million dollars. “That’s bad enough,” he said, revealing that that was the company’s single largest outstanding debt “by far, by several magnitudes”, adding, “That’s the BVIHSA, you don’t want to touch them really”.
The BVIEC began communicating with the BVIHSA; however, according to Dr Smith, it got to the point where it was a one-way type of communication.
“The BVIEC is faced with issues where we have creditors and we have debtors that don’t want to pay us from all levels; from the highest levels in government to the other levels, we tried to communicate with no response. We had to do something to catch their attention,” he stated.
Dr Smith said there was no way of explaining such a big outstanding debt to the company’s board of directors, that the debtor seemed to have had no intention of paying.
“How do I address that? And at the same time, I have salaries to pay, I have machines to maintain, I have pensions to pay as well…so that is a problem.”
The BVIEC is not responsible for supplying the BVIHSA with power
Dr Smith continued revealing that the BVIHSA was given deadlines, which were ignored.
“What the public saw was when the clinics came off, which followed the same principle…we have this all the time, when the suppliers are not able to settle their bills immediately, we communicate with them and say we understand, but this is what we’re going to do and we’ll work through it. That was the problem we had with BVIHSA…I don’t know if it was a hardline because it took maybe 8 months for it to happen.”
“It’s hard, you know, because you cut off some clinics,” Grange interjected; however, Dr Smith said, “That wasn’t done without warning.”
Dr Smith replied, saying, “It is not BVIEC’s responsibility to maintain the electricity supply to the BVIHSA; it is the board of directors, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the supplier is paid to continue to supply the products. That’s the issue.”
This is the fact that the public does not appreciate, the BVIEC boss added.
“It’s something we did as a last resort. And you noticed that the main hospital didn’t come off, and all of those clinics that came off have generators on them.”
In defence, Dr Smith said the clinics were given a heads up before their electricity supply was disconnected..
In the end, he said, “You cannot just continue to ignore your suppliers; they have obligations too.”
See link to related story
https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/bviec-disconnects-health-clinics-due-to-bvihsa-owing-millions-in-electricity-bills
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13 Responses to “BVIEC GM speaks out on disconnecting power supply of BVIHSA”
Millions wasted on Accreditation that does nothing for their revenue stream but you owed over $5millions for electricity with no intention or plan to pay.
They not paying their bill after being warned is some deliberate s$!t. And a lot of deliberate s$!t is going on in the Virgin Islands.
Transfer of bills from construction of the new hospital to the authority by the NDP administration and not given proper funds to cover almost four million ($4,000,000.00) in bills plus all they will incur for the hospital and other facilities.
The NHI scheme that should be funding the hospital but spend more on private facilities willing but have the hospital fighting to get what theirs. Famous excuse, short on funds. If they not paying social security in a timely manner and has been gettin away with it for years, I don’t know why the then administration (NDP) think this was a a good idea. Until they seriously impose penalties on employers for delinquency, the authority will have funding issues
Next, you the citizens that use the services but refuse to pay your portion of the bill( you know who I’m taking about) those with false ids and using several names ( Spanish and Jamaicans) you are part of the problems. You can be vex all you want but I stand by my words. This also includes you scooter riders too, running bills you can’t pay.
Finally, BVI Electricty. You were wrong for disconnecting the clinics. You’re accountant, Financial Controller and you the Manager well know the hospital been making monthly payments on their bills. They are paying all community clinics in full and making installments on the hospital bill. You fully well know the cannot pay that huge amount in one of two payments especially since it blossom to over six million bordering on seven million. You just disconnect them to cause confusion in the place. To make matter worse you serve as Financial Secretary and familiar with the situation. You know NHI was suppose to pay for the new hospital and continued funding. Failure on a whole lot people cause this and will continue to hinder progress at that facility.
Good for thought,
He willing to cut health center powers, till is his family or friends in there. Whether or not BVIHSA pay them bills or not, it definitely don't hurt his pocket. And BVIHSA is a Government entity, Gov. always pays.... But time longer than twine, make sure you don't end up or show up to no health facility in the BVI Neil, I wouldn't want "dog to nyam yuh supper"