Ambulance Donated to Jost van Dyke
A new ambulance donated by businessman Lesmore Smith and Top Priority Security Services was officially handed over to the people of Jost van Dyke at a commissioning ceremony on November 6, 2025. Government leaders hailed the gift as a significant boost to emergency healthcare and a model for public‑private partnership in the Virgin Islands.
A newly donated ambulance will be stationed to serve Jost van Dyke following an official commissioning and handover ceremony on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The vehicle, donated by local businessman Lesmore Smith and Top Priority Security Services, was presented to the community in an event attended by senior government officials and local representatives.
At the ceremony, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) described the donation as a “momentous occasion” and praised the collaboration between the public and private sectors. “Today is a great day for the people of Jost van Dyke,” he said, adding that the gift demonstrates “the power of the private and public partnership” and the positive results that can follow when both sectors work together.
The minister said the ambulance answers a long‑standing request from the Jost van Dyke community and represents “one step” in the wider effort to transform healthcare across the Virgin Islands. He urged more partnerships to help the Ministry meet its objectives amid financial constraints, saying such cooperation is essential to advancing health services.
Turnbull, the Second District Representative, thanked the donor on behalf of the people of Jost van Dyke and noted the relief the island’s residents will feel after a decade of appeals for improved emergency services. “I have been talking about this ambulance and healthcare services for Jost van Dyke for a long time, 10 years to be exact,” he said, calling the donation “a step in the right direction.” For residents and visitors of Jost van Dyke, a permanently based ambulance is expected to strengthen on‑island emergency response, allow for faster initial treatment and patient stabilisation, and improve coordination with inter‑island transfers to larger medical facilities when required.
The presence of an ambulance may also reassure the significant tourism sector on the island, where timely emergency care can be critical. The handover was reported by Virgin Islands News Online. Officials reiterated that while this donation is a meaningful improvement, continued investment and further public‑private cooperation will be necessary to fully realise broader healthcare transformation goals across the Territory.
The donation underscores a growing trend of community partners contributing to essential services, and local leaders hope it will prompt additional support to expand and sustain health services on the outer islands.
Primary source: VINO