Premier Pledges Review of Sylvester's Bvihsa Appointment
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has committed to conducting administrative due diligence on the proposed appointment of Bevis Sylvester as BVIHSA Board chairman following questions regarding statutory disqualification rules. The scrutiny centers on statutory provisions barring individuals with convictions involving dishonesty, relating to Sylvester's 2004 guilty plea.
Natalio Wheatley has pledged to conduct further due diligence on the proposed appointment of Bevis Sylvester as chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Board, following public questions surrounding statutory disqualification rules under the governing legislation. During a recent press briefing, reporter and media commentator Cindy Rosan questioned the Premier regarding provisions in the BVI Health Services Authority Act governing the suitability of board members.
Rosan pointed to Section 5(6), which mandates that prospective appointees must be fit and proper persons, and Section 5(7)(c), which explicitly states that a person is disqualified from appointment if convicted of an indictable offence or any offence involving dishonesty. The statutory provision contains no expiration date or time limit on that disqualification.
Premier Wheatley distanced himself from the initial approval, clarifying that he was overseas on official business when Cabinet considered and voted on the matter. Responding to the concerns raised, the Premier acknowledged the necessity of legal verification, stating that the government will perform due diligence to ensure all appointments remain strictly compliant with the law.
Cabinet initially approved Sylvester's appointment on September 9, 2026, acting on a recommendation brought forward by Minister for Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley. The meeting was chaired by Governor Daniel Pruce with other Cabinet members present. Under the terms of the approved decision, Sylvester was slated to serve a three-year term from September 7, 2026, to September 6, 2029, receiving a monthly stipend of $1,000.
Under Section 5(5) of the Act, the appointment remains subject to final approval by the House of Assembly and must subsequently be published in the Official Gazette and local newspapers. Sylvester brings extensive private-sector executive background as the founder and CEO of All Energy Caribbean Ltd, former long-time General Manager of Delta Petroleum, and holder of a Master of Laws in International Commercial Law.
He has previously held several public appointments, including serving as chairman of the BVI Airports Authority from 2019 to 2022, as a commissioner on the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, and on the BVI Ports Authority Board. However, his public record has drawn renewed scrutiny.
In 2004, while serving as budget coordinator in the Ministry of Finance, Sylvester pleaded guilty to obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception and neglect of duty in connection with an airport telecommunications contract, resulting in a six-month prison sentence. The conviction was also examined during his May 2021 appearance before the British Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry.
Sylvester was selected to succeed former chairman Ron Potter, alongside recently appointed Chief Executive Officer Gordon Frame. With Premier Wheatley confirming that legal checks will take place, the appointment faces fresh procedural review before lawmakers deliberate on the resolution in the House of Assembly.
Primary source: BVI Platinum