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Paying qualified emergency medical technicians just $16 an hour to save lives is a tragedy that must be urgently addressed, according to former At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles.
“We do have a problem with paying our people, and we need to look at that,” Flax-Charles said at a recent community meeting held on Virgin Gorda.
“To pay somebody who is qualified to save your life $16 an hour, it is a tragedy to pay somebody that money,” she stated.
Her comments follow recent staffing problems at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola, where a shortage of available personnel, compounded by illness among employees, temporarily disrupted Emergency Medical Services and affected ambulance response.
The Road Town Fire Department was called in to assist with emergency calls until evening and night EMS shifts resumed from the hospital.
Flax-Charles also raised concern about the long hours worked by emergency personnel, warning that fatigue could have serious consequences.
“You have EMTs working 16 hours and all of these kinds of things. When they are tired, mistakes will be made,” she said. “They are like pilots and boat captains, and so we need to pay attention to that.”
Minister for Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley acknowledged that EMS personnel are among the lowest-paid workers within the health system.
“The EMS are some of the lowest-paid workers, and we are losing them to the prison service,” Wheatley said.
He pledged to address the salary problem soon but did not provide a timeline or details of the proposed changes.
“But I am going to fix that very soon,” Wheatley stated.
“We do have a problem with paying our people, and we need to look at that,” Flax-Charles said at a recent community meeting held on Virgin Gorda.
“To pay somebody who is qualified to save your life $16 an hour, it is a tragedy to pay somebody that money,” she stated.
Her comments follow recent staffing problems at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola, where a shortage of available personnel, compounded by illness among employees, temporarily disrupted Emergency Medical Services and affected ambulance response.
The Road Town Fire Department was called in to assist with emergency calls until evening and night EMS shifts resumed from the hospital.
Flax-Charles also raised concern about the long hours worked by emergency personnel, warning that fatigue could have serious consequences.
“You have EMTs working 16 hours and all of these kinds of things. When they are tired, mistakes will be made,” she said. “They are like pilots and boat captains, and so we need to pay attention to that.”
Minister for Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley acknowledged that EMS personnel are among the lowest-paid workers within the health system.
“The EMS are some of the lowest-paid workers, and we are losing them to the prison service,” Wheatley said.
He pledged to address the salary problem soon but did not provide a timeline or details of the proposed changes.
“But I am going to fix that very soon,” Wheatley stated.
© 2026 BVI Platinum News. This article is original BVI Platinum content. Reproduction or republication without written permission is prohibited.
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