Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

Resident advocates for burial societies, says bodies languishing

Resident advocates for burial societies, says bodies languishing

A resident has claimed that there have been instances where bodies are left languishing at local funeral parlours, simply because residents do not have the funds necessary to bury their dead.
The person phoned into a radio programme recently, which included Chairman of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), Ronnie Skelton, and suggested that steps should be taken to address the pressing issue.

“One of the biggest problems we have in this country at present is the burial of dead people; burial of corpses,” the anonymous resident argued. “If we are to go to Davis Funeral Parlour now, there are many bodies there lying because many families do not have money to bury their dead.”

He added that Skelton is aware that persons have approached government ministers and House of Assembly members for monies to help bury their dead.

But the caller suggested a model should instead be taken from other Caribbean islands where they too have similar challenges. “If we want to empower the people – like in Dominica, like in Saint Vincent, they have what you call ‘burial societies – because they don’t have many insurance companies down there,” the caller stated.

The resident further suggested that persons can be encouraged to take out ‘a small amount of insurance’, and upon their death, those monies can be used for the purpose of burial. He added: “But we [are] not trying to empower the people in that line because everybody going to rap at the door at some government official for some assistance.”

Social Development Minister responsible for people from cradle to grave

Skelton, in the meantime, agreed that the problem was a real issue, and said legislators who serve in the capacity of Minister of Social Development, are responsible for persons from the cradle to the grave.

He added that not too long ago, every person in the BVI saved money towards their own burial, similar to what the caller suggested. However, he indicated that, because of the current cost of living and all the other issues people are dealing with, it seems there are difficulties doing that now.

Skelton further argued that, with the sometimes ‘lavish’ funerals that take place in the territory, the caller was quite right in suggesting there was a need for a system to be put in place.

“I’m sure some insurance companies are out there listening right now and tomorrow they’ll have a policy,” Skelton added.

PVIM Territorial At-Large candidate, Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather, explained that at least one local company has hinted it is open to offering burial plans for persons who might be interested in participating.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×