BVI eyes future sports collaboration with Jamaica

Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has said that the BVI sees sports as a potential area for collaboration with Jamaica, which is internationally recognised for its excellence in athletics.

The BVI has been making strides on the international athletics scene, with a growing contingent of track and field athletes who continue to reach finals and earn medals at global events such as the World Championships and the Olympics.

Still, there are calls for increased exposure for local athletes, with countries like Jamaica touted as possible strategic partners that could support the BVI’s advancement in the sport. Now that Jamaica has appointed Attorney Paul Dennis as its new Honorary Consul to the BVI, Premier Wheatley said these discussions should become easier.

“Certainly, I’d like to have more focused discussions about what stronger relations with Jamaica would look like. Certainly, any type of exchange – whether sports, the UWI Open Campus that’s here, or culture – these would feature prominently in such discussions, and this appointment of Mr. Dennis makes this process easier,” Premier Wheatley said recently.

Dennis – Senior Partner at the local law firm O’Neal Webster – is a Jamaican national who has lived in the BVI for the past thirty-two years.

Although many Jamaicans have traditionally travelled to the BVI for work in various sectors, including construction, hospitality, law enforcement, teaching, and financial services, this marks the first formal appointment of a Jamaican Honorary Consul in the Virgin Islands.

The government said his appointment signals a new opportunity for deeper engagement between the Virgin Islands and Jamaica, paving the way for collaboration in areas such as trade, economic cooperation, agriculture, border security, education, and cultural exchange.

In his new role, Mr. Dennis will provide consular support to Jamaican nationals in the BVI and promote Jamaica’s interests in the territory. He will operate from offices at Commerce House, 181 Main Street, Road Town, Tortola. He will also work closely with government officials to strengthen relations and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Mr. Dennis commented: “It is a great privilege to serve as Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in the Virgin Islands. I am committed to serving the Jamaican community, promoting Jamaica’s interests, and strengthening the relationship between our two territories. This appointment comes when Caribbean nations seek to strengthen regional ties and promote integration in response to global challenges, including climate change, food security, and economic resilience. I look forward to working with the Government of the Virgin Islands to advance shared priorities.”