Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority, Bishop John I. Cline, Line addressing the audience last evening, August 29, 2012 at the Ashford Waters Community Centre in Virgin Gorda. Photo: Ron Henry/VINO

The meeting, held at the Ashford Waters Community Centre on Virgin Gorda, was specifically designed to discuss and relay any concerns residents may have had, as it related to the BVI Health Service Authority. 

Chairman of the BVIHSA, Mr John Cline, in addressing attendees said the team was there last evening to inform, to educate about what was being done by the Authority and also to understand from the community what was expected of them. 

In a candid revelation Cline said “Health services in the BVI, clearly [is] not where [it] is supposed to be and there needs to be great improvements in the service.” 

He expressed however, that most in the health services are doing the best with what they have, adding that the Authority is trying to empower their staff to give them the tools and necessary training to provide the best service possible. 

Cline promised that there would be great improvement over the next two years of his tenure. He suggested that there would be changes in the service delivered to the community, the quality of care and the way information was put over to the community as well. 

Chairman Cline further disclosed to the audience that the members of the community need to report complaints to the Authority truthfully and specifically. 

“We want to fix problems, we want to fix things.” “We don’t want to you to have a bad experience when you get to the clinic…the reason why you are there is because you are having a bad time anyway [as] something has gone wrong with your health,” he added. 

Operations Manager, John Lewis said the Authority was seeking to engage the community as they set forward a redesign and redevelopment of the organization. 

“We are really seeking a partnership with you tonight as we go forward,” noting that changes cannot be achieved through the body on its own. 

Lewis indicated that the need for feedback from the community was very important and asked for suggestions, encouragement and criticisms from the audience observing that the Authority could not be successful without the community’s input.

Cline in addressing one of the questions posed to the panel about whether a strategic plan was in place for Virgin Gorda, said there were two main concerns on the table at the moment. 

These he noted included the ongoing creation of a health facility for the community which was currently in the planning stage in addition to the provision of a sea vessel for the Virgin Gorda community to assist in transport whenever emergency services were required. 

He expressed that this would eliminate current issues being experienced whenever the ferry was not available.