BVI post must embrace digital age, Premier says
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley told postal leaders gathered for a regional workshop this week that the local post office must embrace digital transformation to stay relevant in a fast-changing world.
Speaking at the Caribbean Postal Union and Universal Postal Union Workshop held in the BVI, Dr Wheatley said the evolution of e-commerce has changed how people shop and communicate, and postal services must adapt to meet these new demands.
“Postal services have always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone in the operation of any society,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He traced the BVI’s postal history back to 1787, when the first post office was opened in Tortola, highlighting how the service helped connect the islands with the rest of the world before the digital era. Despite a rich heritage, Dr Wheatley said the rise of private couriers and digital tools has put pressure on traditional post offices.
“In the last five years, courier shipping in the Virgin Islands accounted for approximately 29.74 million dollars or 1.5 per cent of government revenue… compared to revenue contributions from postal services of just 9.87 million dollars or 0.5 per cent,” he explained.
Dr Wheatley noted the COVID-19 pandemic sped up the adoption of online shopping, which boosted demand for quick and reliable delivery services.
“This period highlighted the resilience and adaptability of the digital economy and fundamentally reshaped the way we shop, likely permanently,” he said.
As global e-commerce is expected to reach $6.68 trillion by 2025, Dr Wheatley urged postal operators to modernise their systems and partner with technology platforms. “Modernising our postal offerings is not merely a necessity, it is a mandate,” he asserted.
He said the government plans to explore digital platforms, automated sorting, and data analytics to improve delivery and customer service. Reliable internet, he added, is key to this effort. “We are committed to leveraging technology to improve our postal services,” the Premier said.
Dr Wheatley also encouraged regional cooperation to improve logistics, share best practices, and create innovative solutions tailored to small island needs.
“Let us honour the legacy of our predecessors by building a postal service that is efficient, innovative, and responsive to the needs of our communities,” he said.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
This premier have all the ideas in the world but can’t implement not one! You think ideas will get you elected come next election?!! Tired of reading about what we as country need.. how about just do it?’oh I forget, this gov like all gov have a problem when it comes to bringing their ideas to fruition.
Hey S!0wW@nde, Mr Premier, let’s first work out the kinks in the processes and then consider efficiency, then automation and then possibly digital transformation. How is the budget coming? Have you figured out how to balance the budget yet?
The postal service is an absolute joke. Letters posted in Tortola often take months to make their way to the destination PO box (also on Tortola)… not to mention the hilarious experience of receiving Christmas cards posted from Europe in December arriving around Easter time or later.
BVI Post!!!
It’s slooooowwww, inefficient, way behind in technology and an unnecessary government expense. Retire or move the postal staff to other positions in the civil service. The BVI’s courier and mail service businesses are faster, cheaper, more efficient and are already digital having left BVI Post in the dust decades ago.
The populace has to embrace the digital age as well. What comes in the mail? Bills? Bank statements? For the love of God, save a tree and have them sent electronically.
In other words, why are there still postboxes in 2025 ..