Prioritise us! Ad Hoc committee in VG calls for preview of 2025 budget

An ad hoc committee formed by Virgin Gorda residents to lobby for better healthcare on the sister island, is calling for a preview of government’s preliminary estimates for the 2025 budget to ensure that funds for community healthcare are prioritised.

The group, known as the Ad Hoc Committee for Urgent Enhancement of Healthcare on Virgin Gorda, was established in response to growing public frustration with the current state of healthcare services, particularly following the tragic death of a resident on August 31. The individual, Revovion ‘Bucky’ Sprauve, reportedly died after being denied timely access to medical services at the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic due to reduced hours.

Although government healthcare officials held a community meeting earlier in September, the committee has raised fresh concerns about the government’s apparent lack of urgency in addressing these issues. They noted that the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) had highlighted the urgent need for financial support during the 2023/2024 budget discussions to address significant operational deficits and capital expenditures affecting local health clinics, including those in Virgin Gorda.