“It is now official! After years of pursuit, today while attending the 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Barbados I also took the time on behalf of the BVI to sign an agreement for us as a territory to establish medical schools through the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Medicine and other Health Professionals,” Premier Fahie stated.

He said this new milestone achievement is one which will generate a number of benefits for the economy of the BVI.

“This is good news as well as it will create more opportunities for our people of the BVI in many areas such as rental of apartments, need for increased forms of transportation, scholarships to study medicine at home, adding value to our healthcare – an overall boost to our economy,” Premier Fahie explained.

Agreement also signed with CXC

The release further said that Premier Fahie, while at the meeting, also signed an agreement with the Caribbean Examination Council which outlines the BVI’s membership in the organisation.

The agreement also outlines the benefits the territory will receive as a member, which includes: “free training for teachers, reduced fees for our examinations and a stake in the direction of the organisation.”

The Premier said the agreements were made possible thanks to the work of Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley and involved public officers.

Other medical school agreements in the BVI

This is the second agreement signed by a government of the British Virgin Islands to establish a medical facility in the territory.

The first was approved by Cabinet under the NDP Administration in 2018, to establish the University of Science Arts and Technology — which was later renamed to the University of Health & Humanities, Virgin Islands — in the BVI.

BVI News was last made to understand in September 2019 by Minister Dr Wheatley, that the new medical facility was awaiting renovations to be completed at its James Young Harbour View Marina campus in East End, Tortola.

We were further informed that the school was also awaiting accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), before it could begin operations.