Health

Bryan Acknowledges Pafford's Departure, Says GVI Could Not Sustain "Financial Burden Forever"

The Bryan administration on Wednesday night issued a statement on Pafford Medical Services' departure from the U.S. Virgin Islands, revealing that with post-hurricane and Covid relief funds from the federal government depleted, the local government can no longer bear to pay. "The funding for Pafford's services was supported by federal funds, which have since been exhausted. With the cessation of this federal support, the financial burden has now shifted to the Government of the Virgin Islands' local funding, which is not able to sustain these elevated costs on a permanent basis," Government House said. Earlier today, Pafford confirmed to the Consortium that effective immediately, all its personnel had begun departing the USVI. The decision, which Pafford described as extremely difficult, was made following incessant attempts to collect payments totaling nearly $10 million from the local government for services provided to the USVI. Since its response to assist the USVI following Hu...