Moleto A. Smith Jr approved by HoA for BVIHSA’s Chairman post
Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), Junior Minister for Tourism Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL), Deputy Speaker Hon Neville A. Smith (AL), Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool and Sixth District Representative Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines voted in favour of the appointment.
There were five absent voters: Leader of the Opposition Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull and Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7).
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) chose to abstain from voting because his wife, Mrs Esther Wheatley, is a member of the board.
Debate
After passing the motion, Hon Malone explained that he was seeking approval to appoint Mr Smith for a period of three years, to take effect from July 15, 2021.
Hon Malone said Mr Smith has over 30 years of experience in health care, human services, budgeting, emergency management and government operations. He also has over 24 years in federal and inter-governmental relationships working across the public and private, and not for profit sectors and has served in various capacities in the health sector in the USVI.
Opposition Leader has reservations!
Contributing to the debate, Opposition Leader Hon Penn said he would have preferred to have someone who was in tune with what was taking place in the territory for the post.
“I have gone through his resume and his record of accomplishment. Very stellar record of accomplishment, he is a Virgin Islander, one that has lived in the diaspora, but I have gotten serious encouragement from persons within the USVI and beyond who worked with Mr Smith and holds him in high regard in terms of his contributions in the areas he has worked in and his contributions in health care in general.”
“Mr Speaker, the challenges facing our territory currently with COVID-19 and the other pressures, the economic pressures are real, and it requires a level of dedication, a level of commitment and a level of knowledge of the industry, not just from ta health services point of view but from a management’s point of view. We need to have the proper structures in place in terms of managing health care as a business. It requires persons firmly planted in the institution to understand the demographics of the institution and to understand what the different needs are,” Hon Penn said.
No issues with the individual!- Hon Penn
Hon claimed; however, that had no issues with the nominee as an individual, but “I personally would have loved to have someone on the ground dealing with the issues concerning COVID-19 specifically with the structural issues and the human resource issues that we have to navigate currently.”
Hon Fraser also debated on the motion, stated that he knew Mr Smith, he knew of his experience and that his credentials were ‘impeccable’ and this nomination was a good one.
Hon Fraser said Mr Smith coming on board in the territory’s Health Services would benefit greatly, especially since he has been a part of the USVI fabric for a very long time.
Honourable Fraser added that he believes Mr Smith would make some much-needed changes to the modus operandi of the service offerings and make it friendlier.
Other board members
The other board members will be Dr Karl Dawson as Deputy Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority Board for a period of three years with effect from August 13, 2021, Mrs Kishelle Blaize-Cameron and Ms Andrea Walters as members of the BVI Health Services Authority Board, for a period of three respectively, with effect from July 15, 2021.
In addition, Mrs Esther Wheatley, Ms Kisha Frett and Mr Lemuel Smith will serve as Members of the BVI Health Services Authority Board for three years starting from July 15, 2021.
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8 Responses to “Moleto A. Smith Jr approved by HoA for BVIHSA’s Chairman post”
pea from the same pod
I am native man, one of many members of your boss team, the people that you ( VIP leaders ) are accountible to. For our own good, I hope that you have made a good judgment this time.
With no hesitation,it is time to start seeking< out possible candidates for the next election.
The current elected has been tainted by recent doings and some findings so far by the COI.
The VI must be on the lookout for a dozen or so possibilities of replacement candidates.
I know him personally for over 25 years. He’s one of the most humble but real persons I’ve ever met. He’s doing this because he was asked to assist.
This man isn’t doing this for the money. I’m certain he currently makes much more than 10x the kind of money this appointment will pay.
And for the record, he’s the CEO of the largest and most successful healthcare operation on St. Thomas, with over 110 employees and 25 doctors. So whoever it was that said he’s only coming here because he has nothing going on is gravely mistaken.
This man is closely connected to the BVI and has been for several generations — Smith, Robinson, Greaves, Hodge, Todman. He’s the president of the oldest BVI organization that has given tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to BVIslander students to attend college.
And yes, he was in Road Town when the 2017 floods occurred on August Monday. After the 2017 hurricane, he and his group organized the donation of tens of thousands of dollars in medical supplies to the hospital. He and his group even came up before schools reopened to donate thousands of dollars worth of school supplies to several of the primary schools on Tortola. He has also been connected to the rebuild of the hospital from its beginning in 2007.
Thank you Moleto!