Sylvester’s conviction clouds BVIHSA appointment

The Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital in Road Town Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has promised further due diligence on the proposed appointment of Bevis Sylvester as chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) board following questions about his previous conviction and the statutory requirements governing board membership. Cabinet approved Sylvester’s appointment during its September 9 meeting on the recommendation of Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley. The proposed three-year appointment runs from September 7, 2026, to September 6, 2029, but still requires House of Assembly approval.

At a recent press conference, reporter Cindy Rosan asked the Premier whether he had attended the Cabinet meeting on Sylvester’s vote and whether Cabinet had considered the provisions of the BVI Health Services Authority Act governing the suitability of prospective board members. “Okay, I was not in Cabinet at the time, but of course, given what you stated, I think we can do some due diligence just to make sure that all appointments are compliant with the law,” Premier Wheatley stated. Section 5(6) of the BVI Health Services Authority Act, 2004 requires the approving authorities to ensure that prospective board members are “fit and proper”. Section 5(7)(c) states that a person is disqualified from appointment if that person “has been convicted of an indictable offence or any offence involving dishonesty”. The section does not specify a time limit on the disqualification . Sylvester previously worked as a budget co-ordinator in the Ministry of Finance. Court records show that he pleaded guilty in 2004 to obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception and neglect of duty. He received a six-month prison sentence. The matter concerned an…