'Time for helicopter emergency evacuation service'- Dr Rawle R. Hannibal
Dr Hannibal alluded to a term in medicine which says “time is brain”, which means time is a major factor in determining who lives or dies. “A couple minutes can make a difference,” he said in emphasising the need for a more efficient evacuation service for the sister islands.
“In 2015 the time has come for us to step up to Helicopter Medical Evacuation/Helvac, coupled with staff trained in emergency and trauma medicine. This would save lives.”
Helipad catching grass
The Virgin Gordian expressed that accidents will happen and with the territory being a tourism based economy it has to be ready for any eventuality. “We are surrounded by sea, which can become quite torturous and dangerous for patients and crew when being transported by boat. In Anegada, if you have a medical emergency and needed to be flown out to Beef Island it’s going to cost you two thousand dollars cash one way,” he posited.
“Incredible but true! How will we pay for it? By utilisation of the following services: the Police, Fire and Rescue, Immigration/Customs and Premier’s Office. This can become part their annual budget, as well taking $2.00 from the $15.00 cruise passenger head tax – in addition to a new $3.00 Caution tax would be added to the cost of a ferry ticket for cruise passengers travelling to Virgin Gorda,” he further pointed out.
Dr Hannibal added that fundamentally a government is to take care of roads, infrastructure, education and most certainly healthcare. “We have helipads built out of government funds catching grass,” he said.
Develop a National Airline
Speaking to the issue of developing a national airline, Dr Hannibal expressed that to go and collect passengers from the four (4) international airports, namely Antigua, Puerto Rico, St Marteen and St Thomas, that are less than 30 minutes on average away from the Virgin Islands (VI) is necessary. He said it was previously done with AIR BVI and can be done again bigger and better with another airline.
“TRANSAIR BVI, I see a public-private partnership working here, the subsidy that is given to foreign carriers can now be offered to the local carrier,” he said while noting that it is a viable option to building an incredibly expensive and environmentally unfriendly longer runway at Beef Island.
“Airports do not make money from longer runways – they make money from being landlords of the terminal building.”
The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport underwent a major $55 million renovation in 2004 and was one of the largest capital projects ever undertaken in the territory at that time.
“We have a fleet of local pilots here in the BVI not practicing. Leasing ATR’s aircraft is a viable option. Such a venture would provide jobs and opportunities, solve our carrier issue and provide business competition in the industry, hence the price of regional travel to and from the BVI would be reduced,” said Dr Hannibal.
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26 Responses to “'Time for helicopter emergency evacuation service'- Dr Rawle R. Hannibal”
3 miles from the airport is Road Town
How would you get fuel, a hospital and everything else needed for an international airport to Anegada? Why would you want to spoil the last unspoilt island that we have with a an airport that would effectively achieve nothing.
Sit down and re think.
ONCE HEARD A YOUNG FEMALE SAYS SHE ONE DAY HOPES TO DO THIS BUT THE WAY GOVERNMENT SET UP LET'S LEAVE IT THERE