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Gov’s swearing-in reportedly prevented ambulance from easy access to ESHS

-Police Officer allegedly told emergency personnel that road was closed on their way to pick up an ill child
February 1st, 2024 | Tags: ESHS Daniel Pruce ambulance road closure
It was reported that a traffic police officer reportedly told the emergency personnel that the road was closed due to the official swearing-in of Governor Pruce, and may have asked the driver to stop. Photo: GIS/File
United Kingdom's appointed Governor Daniel Pruce was sworn in on January 29, 2024. Photo: GIS/File
United Kingdom's appointed Governor Daniel Pruce was sworn in on January 29, 2024. Photo: GIS/File
A child fell ill at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) with an alleged seizure and the Ambulance had to be called. Photo: GIS/File
A child fell ill at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) with an alleged seizure and the Ambulance had to be called. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - It was on Monday, January 29, 2024, when the United Kingdom's appointed Governor Daniel Pruce was being sworn in at the High Court, that certain roads around the House of Assembly building were closed.

However, many residents have called our News Centre advising us that around the same time a child fell ill at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) with an alleged seizure and an ambulance had to be called.

Road Close sorry- police 

It was reported that a traffic police officer reportedly told the emergency personnel that the road was closed due to the official swearing-in of Governor Pruce, and may have asked the driver to stop.

However, the officer eventually allowed the ambulance to enter and leave the school campus.  It is also unclear if the medical situation of the child was time-sensitive and if the delay had caused any further damage to the child.

It is protocol around the world that even in a road closure, emergency personnel would have access to help the sick.

When contacted, police spokeswoman Akia L. Thomas told our newsroom that “the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is aware of the mentioned situation and is addressing the matter internally, we will not comment further at this time”.

Many parents on hearing about this were outraged. The RVIPF under Mark Collins has been in the news recently over a petition signed by some 30 police officers, most of them senior with some 55 allegations of maladministration, unfair treatment, destroying evidence, and allegations of corruption leveled against Mr Collins.  

Double standards & hypocrisy? 

The former Governor, Mr John J.  Rakin CMG commenced an investigation into the allegations, however, more controversy developed when Mr Rankin refused to send Mr Collins on leave while he was being investigated as is the protocol.

Many including elected officials have also accused Mr Collins of using UK Police Officers to go after his perceived enemies in the Territory with trumped-up allegations, and sometimes face charges with little or no evidence in an attempt to damage their reputation. 

Emergency Personnel at the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital could not be reached for comments as of publication time.

29 Responses to “Gov’s swearing-in reportedly prevented ambulance from easy access to ESHS”

  • WOW (01/02/2024, 09:36) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply

    That officer is an idiot. I bet it's ch*****k sister. She was the one redirecting traffic by Fire. Smh

  • bvibuzz (01/02/2024, 09:47) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    What ashamed poor bvi
  • justin (01/02/2024, 09:58) Like (5) Dislike (39) Reply
    while local house of assembly is going on; the traffic moves about without any disruption in that area

    white gentleman using the very same building and road block

    one of our children was denied access to medical treatment because mr governor in the Area

    wait till the Scotland yard shows up
    • @justin (01/02/2024, 11:41) Like (35) Dislike (2) Reply
      One officer does something stupid and you find a way to blame it on the white man. I'd say I'm surprised, but this really is the mentality of folk over here. And before you come at me, yes I am from the BVI; yes, I am black; yes, I can trace my ancestors to at least 3 generations. It is exasperating listening to the same rhetoric from the same small-minded people over and over again.

      Additionally, doesn't the house of assembly sit at Save the Seed? Of course it doesn't impact the traffic around ESHS.
      • To @Justin (01/02/2024, 21:38) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        They moved back from Save the Seed to the House of Assembly Building next to the high school a long time ago…
    • @justin (01/02/2024, 11:49) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
      NO, NO, NO ABSOLUTELY NOT. Please don’t do that. The child was not denied medical treatment. I feel the whole thing about the ambulance not being able to get to the sick student falls squarely on the traffic officer. It was the traffic officer’s responsibility to assure the Ambulance got through even if there were cones blocking the way.
      • @justin (01/02/2024, 13:43) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
        HONESTLY, YOUR COMMENT IS DISGUSTING. SO TELL ME JUSTIN, IF IT HAD BEEN A BLACK GENTLEMAN USING THE VERY SAME BUILDING AND THE ROAD WAS BLOCKED WOULD YOU HAVE SAID WHAT YOU SAID? AND BY THE WAY, THE CHILD WAS NOT DENIED MEDICAL TREATMENT.
    • @justin (01/02/2024, 11:59) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
      All I will say to you is in the year 2024, is people such as yourself is really this stupid and ignorant? The child was not denied access to medical treatment because the Governor was in the area. People like you is one of the reasons why people look at us like we are simpletons and laughing stocks.
    • @justin (01/02/2024, 23:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You can’t lay this one on the white man. The one you should be laying it on and angry with is the traffic cop.
  • TurtleDove (01/02/2024, 10:46) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hope we get a coi on this as life could have been lost
  • police (01/02/2024, 10:49) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    In any emergency, our police officers are usually the ones to be most untrained ones. The fire officers are professional in how they handle situations, EMT's try their best but the police usually come with chaos and ignorant heavy hand. I have witnessed several emergencies at different levels and occassions, and the police definitely needs to be retrained.
  • nonsense (01/02/2024, 10:51) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    That officer needs to be relieved from his position because its obvious he has no common sense. Such persons are NOT NEEDED on the force
  • same thing (01/02/2024, 10:53) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply

    Them d***y cop don't care about any thing or anyone just to dressing up think they look good set of b**h

  • Real Macoy (01/02/2024, 11:04) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    That child could have died.
    The police have to know how to us their discretion in situation like this.
    I hope the police chief give that individual a brief warning.
    • @Real Macoy (01/02/2024, 14:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      And if the police chief gives a warning to the officer, then what? Tomorrow we'll see another article about how a local officer has been punished by the big bad CoP.
      • @Teal Macoy (01/02/2024, 19:50) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        Facts, you will see an article HEADLINED, local police officer was punished unjustly by top cop who happens to be white and is from the UK. Do you understand where I am coming from?
  • fromafar (01/02/2024, 11:10) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    this makes my blood boil, what foolishness? an emergency vehicle ?
  • ccc (01/02/2024, 11:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Heard it was pompous robo cop
  • Interesting (01/02/2024, 11:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    BS!. That officer needs to be fired. Emergency vehicles should always have unrestricted access, no matter what.
  • Stupes (01/02/2024, 11:32) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    It was not the Governor's Swearing in that caused it. It was the lack of common sense that the officer employed. A life is never more important than a ceremony.

    It's like we can't think.
  • donkey holes (01/02/2024, 11:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    So i guess if somebody in the swearing in had take sick the some would've been applied?
  • hmm (01/02/2024, 12:07) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    That had nothing to do with the ceremony
    These officers ayo have need to learn to use discretion
    Im so disappointed in our little BVI
  • (01/02/2024, 12:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Callwood struck again
  • Quiet Storm (01/02/2024, 13:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Police Officers role is to serve and protect. And in doing so officers must use his/her discretion. This officer failed this basic test. Is serving in the RVIPF just about a pay check?
  • rattie (01/02/2024, 13:44) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    These police officers love the white man what a sad day
  • IS THIS ALL YOU GOOD FOR ? (01/02/2024, 14:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    DO YOU SAY A PRAYER IN THE MORNING ? EVERYDAY ITS THE SAME RACIST CANARY ON YOUR YELLO SITE WHERE YOU RULE , YOU
    KEEP HOLLERING OUT YOUR USUAL BROKEN DOWN RECORD RETHORIC ( AKA ) GABBAGE / THE YEAR JUST START AND YOU DONE START ON THE GOVERNOR / THE PREMIER NEEDS TO CLIP YOUR BEAK / AKA - FLAPS • YOU ARE ONLY SENDING OUT A NEGATIVE MESSAGE TO THE OUTER WORLD THAT WE ARE A RACIST COUNTRY
  • GateKeeper (01/02/2024, 14:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Something is missing from this story. I’m assuming that at police training school, recruits are lectured on discretion, for using discretion is an integral and vital part of policing. Discretion is not only taught in training school but I’m assuming stressed in daily operations. Did this officer had a lapse in judgement or was following direction to let any traffic through? Why the road had to blocked for a swearing in ceremony? Did the planners of the event consider emergencies and how they were to be handled? Or they assume police officers would use their discretion? Did the officer had to call supervisor for guidance before acting? If so something is wrong and may be there is no trust in junior officers to use their discretion. Effective leadership is get out of way and let people do their jobs, not breathing over their shoulders and micromanaging.
  • WEW (01/02/2024, 17:26) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Only the BVI could make this a racial issue. UK now
  • justin (02/02/2024, 08:45) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    immigration sent me back long looks after seeing the responses to my personal opinion


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