BVI punches above its weight on global stage – Premier
Though small in size, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stated that the BVI continues to hold its own on the global stage, declaring that the territory “punches above its weight” and plays a respected role in international decision-making circles.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the BVI’s Diplomatic Week 2025, Wheatley said the territory’s strategic diplomacy has earned it influential positions within major global and regional organisations.
“The BVI currently is serving as Vice Chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC),” Wheatley explained. “The BVI is also vice chair of the entire ECLAC — the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. That’s an enormous accomplishment for a territory of 30,000 people.”
ECLAC represents a broad cross-section of Latin American and Caribbean nations, including large countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic. The Premier said the BVI’s role in that forum demonstrates that the territory’s voice “is being heard” at the highest levels.
He credited the BVI for being involved in discussions in rooms that matter. “That means that we are being effective in our diplomacy,” Wheatley continued. “[BVI is] respected, has a voice, [and is] able to participate in decision-making.
The Premier also noted that the Virgin Islands has a long history of leadership in regional and international spaces — from hosting conferences to serving as chairs and vice chairs of influential committees.
“I’ve seen time and time again the BVI punch above its weight,” he said. “The types of tables we sit at, the circles we engage in — you go to the Middle East and overseas territories have a presence there. I went to Dubai… and we were met by a member of the royal family at the airport. We’ll be going to India next year and expect to meet with high-level government officials. We’ve also met top officials in China. The BVI has a lot to be proud of.”
The Premier’s comments come amid ongoing public scrutiny of his administration’s frequent overseas travel and global engagement efforts. Critics have argued that the costs associated with such trips outweigh their benefits, while the government has maintained that building and maintaining international relationships is critical to advancing the BVI’s interests on issues such as climate change, financial services, and self-determination.
Despite the limited resources available to the territory, Wheatley said the BVI has managed to achieve significant diplomatic success.
“We don’t have all the diplomatic postings that other nations have — just a few persons working in particular areas,” he said. “Yet, we’ve been able to do a great deal with a small bit of resources.”
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good psycology mr.primiere.you are trying everything to convince people about independence.nice try sir.
It is visible for sure on the Global stage for having a corrupt convicted money launderer and Drug smuggling King Pin. The HOA still worship him and his ways on the walls of the HOA.
We punching worldwide hiding money and business for the corrupt, the drug smugglers, the money launderers and terrorists (and we fighting to keep it that way.)
We punching feom Dubai to China to India to planes at airports in Miami
Punching above our weight on the Global stage of corruption for sure.
Just need to make sure our SECRETS stay SECRET and push forward to hide CORRUPTION behind INDEPENDENCE.
He wants to destroy the BVI like how Trump is destroying America, people of the British Virgin Islands we can’t allow this to happen.
BVI is a snall, very small, territory of the British empire. 30,00 people, What is that? 1% of Puerto Rico just as an example. Stop acting like an independ state pleas.
This must be the du**est “leader” of a former colony.
You can list all the international committees that you and your brothers are part of, but what have you efforts truly done for the BVI? Do they put food on our tables? Do they bring investors here to create jobs for our people? Do they curb the banking and political corruption that continues to plague this territory? Do they stop you from allegedly raiding the treasury?
You boast about global connections while acting like a tyrant at home — trying to convince your Caribbean counterparts that you’re sincere. But the truth is, every one of them prioritizes their own people and their country’s progress. Meanwhile, you put non-locals first and refuse to seek meaningful foreign investment. Instead, you parade around the world like a child at a carnival, chasing attention while lacking the maturity and vision to move this country forward. You even act like the 7th district is not a part of your portfolio and you go out of your way to keep the people down. You are a real modern day Aurthur Hodge.
Because you have no clear plan for economic growth, you’ve reduced work permits to what I view as the “third pillar” of our economy — a sign of desperation, not development. Lavity said where there is no vision the people perish and you should know as you make it a point of duty to attend their funeral every week. These are the ones that ended up giving up on life in the BVI because they lost hope in the country and its leadership and felt they had no where to turn for help.
The only punches we see are the blows landed on our economy by your administration’s inaction and incompetence. Your so-called “best efforts” abroad have done nothing to restore investor confidence or bring meaningful prosperity to the people of the BVI.
This same tag line was used at the attendance of Gaston brown at the same meeting that natalio attended, about punch above weight, this natalio idolize them thieving politicians from the independent Caribbean countries, no wonder you pushing independence according to them thieving politicians advise.
Can BVI punch above it weight with road and infrastructure and sewage and Bank of Asia $5 million USD heist by natalio along with natalio heisting $250 k to Vybz Kartel.
Self serving for his ego, that’s all. No news here.