Local News
UniteBVI Foundation Partners with His Majesty’s Prison for Inmate Rehabilitation
His Majesty’s Prison recently received a generous donation of chess supplies and various resources from the UniteBVI Foundation in an effort to promote inmate rehabilitation.
The initiative aims to engage inmates in the game of chess, fostering valuable skills such as patience and perseverance while serving their sentences.
Expressing gratitude for the partnership, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley commended UniteBVI and Superintendent of Prison Mr. Jay Kendall, along with his rehabilitation staff, for their dedication to inmate rehabilitation. “We cannot do it all ourselves, so I am thankful for strategic partners in making these things possible,” Honourable Wheatley remarked, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving rehabilitation goals.
In addition to chess pieces, the donation includes basketballs, footballs, art supplies, dominoes, and puzzles, demonstrating a holistic approach to rehabilitation. UniteBVI has also enlisted the support of the BVI Chess Foundation to assist with training prison inmates in the game of chess.
Superintendent Jay Kendall expressed appreciation for the continued support from Honourable Wheatley and UniteBVI Foundation in enhancing rehabilitation initiatives at Balsam Ghut. “This holds significant importance for everyone, particularly the inmates at HM Prison Balsam Ghut,” Superintendent Kendall emphasised, highlighting the anticipated positive impact on inmate safety in the British Virgin Islands.
Meanwhile, Honourable Mather underscored the often overlooked plight of incarcerated individuals worldwide and praised the collaborative efforts between UniteBVI, Honourable Wheatley, and prison staff to address inmate rehabilitation. The initiative aims to ensure that inmates and their rehabilitation efforts are not forgotten within the prison system.
Kim Takeuchi, the Foundation Manager at UniteBVI, highlighted the partnership’s alignment with the foundation’s mandate to foster sustainable and positive benefits for the BVI community. “This is a great example of collaboration coming together to achieve something greater than ourselves,” Miss Takeuchi affirmed, expressing enthusiasm for future endeavors with the prison and rehabilitation team.
Local News
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Health
Health Minister Calls for BVI Health Services Authority Chairman’s Resignation
A significant shift occurred within the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Board when Health and Social Development Minister Vincent O. Wheatley requested the resignation of Chairman Ron Potter.
The reasons for this request remain unclear, and it has not yet been confirmed whether Potter has complied. Potter, who was appointed Chairman in 2023, succeeded Moleto A. Smith, a U.S. Virgin Islands resident who was also reportedly compelled to step down.
The Cabinet’s decision to remove Smith and appoint Potter was formalised in a document from the Cabinet’s meeting on March 8, 2023. At that meeting, the Cabinet decided to appoint Potter, a former Chairman of the BVI Electricity Corporation, to lead the BVIHSA Board for a three-year term, pending approval by the House of Assembly.
Smith’s removal, which took place before the end of his contract set to expire in July 2024, was not fully explained. The Cabinet cited Schedule 1, Section 3(1) of the BVI Health Services Authority Act 2004 as the basis for Smith’s removal. This provision allows the Minister of Health to remove a board member if they have been absent from three consecutive meetings without consent, become disqualified, unable to fulfil their duties, or breached their appointment conditions.
Further details about the potential changes at the BVIHSA remain undisclosed, and no official statement has been issued regarding the matter.
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