Hsa CEO Being Pushed Out
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline alleges the government’s actions are forcing the resignation of Acting HSA CEO Dr June Samuel and has urged Cabinet to reverse course. BVI News has not been able to independently verify his claims.
Veteran commentator Claude Skelton Cline has accused the government of pushing out the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the BVI Health Services Authority (HSA), Dr June Samuel, and has called on Cabinet to halt any move to appoint an outside candidate. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme, Skelton Cline questioned why Dr Samuel — who has served in an acting capacity for about four years and reportedly applied for the substantive post — has not been confirmed despite a recommendation from the HSA board. "Here we go again with an outsider when we have qualified insiders," he said.
Skelton Cline stressed the matter was one of fairness and opportunity for qualified Virgin Islanders rather than a simple expatriate-versus-local debate. "Why is it that persons like Dr June Samuel, one of ours, who’ve acted now for some four years, why is it that you have not approved… one of our qualified persons to that post?" he asked.
The commentator said a new name had been forwarded for Cabinet consideration and urged ministers to reject the external candidate and instead confirm the board's recommendation. He acknowledged the outside candidate was likely qualified but voiced concern about a pattern of appointing non-locals to senior public posts. "You can't blame the UK this time.
Skelton Cline also drew a parallel with recent public support for Deputy Commissioner Vanterpool, saying residents had mobilised when a local senior police officer appeared to be sidelined. "We went down here a few weeks ago. We marched for [Deputy] Commissioner Vanterpool over some of the same issues," he said, adding that attention should also be paid to local decisions under the Government's control.
Dr Samuel, in a recent interview on the Talking Points show, questioned why she remained in an acting capacity for four years and sought clarity on the appointment process for the substantive CEO role. Observers say prolonged acting appointments at key institutions can affect staff morale, continuity of management and public confidence in health services — concerns particularly relevant to residents who rely on the HSA for hospital and community care.
BVI News has not been able to independently verify Skelton Cline's claims up to the time of publication. Cabinet and the HSA had not provided comment to this outlet by the time this article was published. The matter raises questions about appointment transparency and local capacity that are likely to draw public and political attention in the coming days.
Primary source: BVI News