BVI experiencing the most difficult times since slavery — Dr Wheatley
Deputy Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed that the BVI may be experiencing some of its most difficult times since slavery.
Dr Wheatley made the remark while appearing on the Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) ‘Let’s Talk’ radio programme last evening, March 8 along with Health Minister Carvin Malone.
During the programme, Dr Wheatley highlighted that the VIP administration under Premier Andrew Fahie had just celebrated three years in office, but he moved quickly to some of the troubles the administration has had to endure within that period.
“We have made quite a number of accomplishments despite very trying circumstances. I would say this is perhaps the most difficult time the Virgin Islands has had, maybe outside of slavery, and those times maybe just right after slavery trying to build an economy and trying to survive,” Dr Wheatley said.
He continued: “But since the modern Virgin Islands, since the times of 1950 straight up until now, this is some of the most difficult times we’ve had to endure.”
Meanwhile, Malone said that he was pleased the administration was able to achieve the number of accomplishments that it had, despite the encumbrances it faced.
“We have, in this territory, quite a challenge. We have some of the normal political jaggery (sic), which is – you can’t take politics out of politics – so, you know you actually expect that,” Malone stated.
The Health Minister pointed to criticisms from the Opposition and said they would be correct in stating that all of what was promised by the VIP had not been accomplished.
However, he was quick to add that key factors were being left out of the equation.
“What they fail to always repeat”, Malone said, “is that we had to displace over $70-$80 million of actual cash and value in order to go through the particular global pandemic of which the territory itself was faced with.”
Minister Malone revealed during the programme that positive COVID-19 cases have now fallen to just three persons in the territory.
Dr Wheatley expressed that the BVI has had one of the best management systems for the COVID-19 pandemic in the entire world and suggested that the administration, along with the Health Minister, should be given due credit for their respective roles in managing COVID-19.
“It was not without casualties and that’s why we have to remain vigilant at all times,” he added.
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And the reason for this is because the VIP is our government. The VIP has done more harm to this country than Irma, Covid and the pandemic. You Sir Wheatley has been a dismal failure in your job.
He also said that the BVI has had one of the best management systems for the COVID-19 pandemic in the entire world. Anguilla has 1 death. we have 62. I wonder if they know what percentage that is.
not to mention the amount that died in three weeks.
The failure to achieve a higher level of success is rooted in poor education, poorly managed infrastructure and poor governance. It doesn’t have to be this way folks.
The BVI has been a slave to the tyranny of the VIP and it’s leaders. Time to break the shackles and free ourselves from these corrupts and criminal overseers.
BVI has been a slave to greed, corruption and cronyism for decades, both parties.
The people elected Sowande Uhuru and got Natalio Wheatley. What a total waste of space, what is this guy even talking about.
Natalio Wheatley If you don’t have something constructive to say why don’t you find a Connor with a book and stay out of the news because every time you have something to say you show us how unfit you are to be a Education Minister. Deputy Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed that the BVI may be experiencing some of its most difficult times since slavery. You are the ones that made it that way glad you pointed that out to us.
Nataly, you are going absolutely crazy mate.
The worst times since slavery? What are you talking about?
How you managed to get a doctorate is an absolute miracle.
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
START PLAYING THE BLAME GAME AGAIN / LAME EXCUSES ? AS USUAL (SO PITIFUL
those thing can be bought / or cheating is another way
Nobody in the BVI today knows anything about slavery, least of all people like Wheatley. The BVI struggles due to consistent mismanagement all the way back to the first CM, where the policy was to see to the betterment of self and family first. A policy still poisoning the HoA today.
The 1st Chief Minister put this territory first!!!! We got electricity, financial services, roads, college, admin complex (just to name a few) – and he went to an early grave. His reward? a mausoleum, college and a holiday named after him.
If he was for himself and family first, would he have accomplished so much??????
Don’t look like too many ministers are living on slave rations.
SMDH WHERE DID WE GO WRONG? HELP US LORD! ???
Now how you fixed your mouth to go that far? Nothing compares to slavery. Please… think before you speak. That was a bit tasteless.
Actually everything compares with slavery. Some things are better, some worse. But they all compare.
Honourable (?!?) SoWhatsGoingOn? back to the smoke, and mirrors tactics that Hey, Hey, Hey has taught him to use. All of these self-serving, pocket filling, money-grubbing MS needs to go.
In 1853 (after emancipation) people rioted because of the introduction of a 50% tax on cattle. British and Danish troops arrived and harshly quelled the uprising. It is my understanding that the islands were then punished for their insubordination by the British, and that all education, the ability to register & transfer land titles, get travel papers/passports/birth certificates etc were then suspended until 1902. Apologies for the history buffs, if I have this wrong, but my understanding was that this period of 60 or so years, the people of the BVI were abandoned more or less. The freed people knew little of agriculture, or fishing, and struggled through with no cash economy. How tough those times must have been!
It would seem to me that this period of history was significantly more challenging than the current era. The Minister should read his history books – to suggest this era was more difficult than the 1850-1902 era just cannot be correct.
The 1st Chief Minister put this territory first!!!! We got electricity, financial services, roads, college, admin complex (just to name a few) – and he went to an early grave. His reward? a mausoleum, college and a holiday named after him.
If he was for himself and family first, would he have accomplished so much??????
He also said that the BVI has had one of the best management systems for the COVID-19 pandemic in the entire world. Anguilla has 1 death. we have 62. I wonder if they know what percentage that is.
not to mention the amount that died in three weeks.
It always comes back to slavery. An experience no Virgin Islander has ever encountered and one that finished 188 years ago. YES 188 YEARS AGO! It’s over and has been for many generations. Stop using it as a cultural crutch to lean on. There are still many people in the world enslaved. If the people of the BVI are so obsessed with slavery, what are they doing to stop it in the world today? NOTHING! Nowhere else in the Caribbean is the rhetoric of slavery more freely used, than in the BVI.
@Repeat record, Since the Andrew Fahie Government got into power the talk of slavery started more than other anytime in the BVI.
He is a waste
Total joke. Wast of tax payers money.
Early Alzheimer’s?
BVI, blaming all their shortcomings and failures on race and slavery since 1853
you put it wonderfully , ?
thats what they were told to say , and if you noticed ( the so called esteem and csc have been sing that same song ? ? every chance they get , and they think we will swallow it ? and now we hearing about REPARATION tune
Slavery? Really?
So this ID10t actually has references to that period of history. Experienced it. Lived it
Nope
Agree
This coming from a government that actively promotes racism against expats.
Thanks to your government
De man say since slavery eno fam lol welsa what a speech what were u drinking mushroom tea?
Does he even remember what slavery was like (and when it was)? Those are some alternative facts