BVI worse off after eight years of VIP gov’t — Vanterpool
Mark Vanterpool
In a blistering speech delivered late yesterday, People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) leader Mark Vanterpool contended that the Virgin Islands is worse off after nearly eight years of Virgin Islands Party (VIP) rule.
The former Fourth District Representative and Communications and Works Minister argued that many longstanding challenges remain unresolved despite repeated promises.
Responding to the Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s 2026 State of the Territory Address, Vanterpool questioned whether residents had seen sufficient benefits from the BVI’s record $550M budget and development programmes.
Record budget
Vanterpool questioned whether the people of the Virgin Islands were where they should be as a territory after nearly eight years. He also asked whether they were better off than they had been almost eight years ago.
He pointed to roads, schools, healthcare, the cost of living, youth opportunities and critical infrastructure as areas that should be assessed.
“Have we solved the challenges surrounding water, sewerage, airport expansion, transportation, and other critical infrastructure?” Vanterpool asked. “The honest answer is no,” he stated.
The PLM leader said the territory possessed “extraordinary people, extraordinary resources, and extraordinary potential”, but argued that opportunities had been missed because major initiatives were not advanced quickly enough.
“Yet for too long we have watched opportunities pass us by, projects stall, decisions postponed, promises repeated, and investor confidence weakened by our inability to move major initiatives forward,” Vanterpool stated.
Election gimmick
He further contended that several projects discussed over recent years had either been delayed or remained unfinished.
“For nearly eight years, the people have heard announcements about roads, schools, airport expansion, ferry terminals, economic development, housing initiatives, and public infrastructure,” Vanterpool stated. “Yet too many projects remain unfinished, delayed, or only now receiving urgent attention as another election approaches.”
Vanterpool’s comments come as the political climate intensifies ahead of next year’s expected general elections. The BVI has seen continued public debate about infrastructure development and public services in the territory. Over the years, residents and opposition politicians have repeatedly raised concerns about the pace of road repairs, airport expansion plans, water distribution issues and other major capital projects.
“I have listened to business owners struggling with rising costs,” Vanterpool said. “I have listened to parents concerned about their children’s future.” He also said pensioners, public officers and young people had voiced concerns about their circumstances and prospects.
According to Vanterpool, the public is seeking “progress”, “action”, “hope” and “results”. He argued that leadership should deliver consistently rather than only when elections are approaching.
“The issue is not whether projects are finally beginning. The issue is why it took so long,” Vanterpool stated. “The people deserve better.”
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we sure are….
The good gentleman is speaking as if he was never in Government. He was the subject minister for 8 years and all he did was waste taxpayer money. If anyone needs reminding just go back and watch his COI interviews.
HOPE – Clearly communicate the aspirations of what we can become and what can achieve together. This represents the planning phase, where vision, goals, and priorities are established.
ACTION – Move forward on those plans with urgency, intention, and purpose. This is where ideas are translated into meaningful steps and measurable activity.
RESULTS – Evaluate the outcomes, measure progress, and make adjustments where needed. Share achievements with the community while also seeking input on areas where further correction or improvement may be required.
PROGRESS – This is the outcome of successfully implementing the first three steps. Through hope, action, and results, we create sustained progress that benefits the wider community.
Now You Cooking With Gas Mark!!!! There is A Saying: After God, Trust No Man. But Can We Trust You Sir??
Am With You So Far as I know You Are The Action Man,
But Ah Fraid!!!
The good gentleman may wish to start his assessment with his own actions. He personally accompanied his sister to Government House to help stabilize the same VIP administration he now condemns. One cannot facilitate a government’s survival and then claim distance from its record. The public has not forgotten the sequence of events.
You are not wrong.
But going from bad to worse with Mark.
We need new leaders because ALL13MUSTGO but not so we go backward with, Mark, Yellow Belly, Horse of Troy, SCO-C, the Phoney Bishop, or any other self serving greedy people.
Same man who took his sister to the Governor for the swearing in ceremony with the VIP
No island man for premier bottom line
But mark, you were once a VIP memeber and recent memory tells me that you were instrumental in convincing your sissy to cross over after she ran as a quasi NDP candidate. That being said, where have you been in the past 3.5 years? Been really busy building your empire off of the same policies that you endorsed prior to now all of a sudden!
I don’t suffer from selective amnesia like so many others including yourself. You were minister for communications & works and you failed miserably. A leopard never changes its spots and like a chameleon YOU changing colors too often shows me the instability in ones’ mindset and ideology.
Nothing you can say will ever convince me that you have changed for the better and are no longer self-serving from a elected representative standpoint!
Wants to put 10% again in his pocket.
He took 8 years of it and didn’t achieve a thing!
NOW PLEASE
Every four years the same old dead political line..Do not be fooled by Mark Vanterpool again. I am tired of his bull nonsense. Bring substance to help the dam country and the people.
Stop Keeping Us In Suspense. Show Thyself. We Had enough!!! What Time It Is? Time For Change In BVI Politics!!! Soon We Will See The Green Cloth in Trees. Soon we Will See The Senegal Peeps Parading The Streets. Not This Time!!!!
Anybody hating on All 13…must Go! (All 13 big up urselves.)
People are so easily moved by words, it’s astonishing. Words a great if applying for a role as an MC or a motivational speaker. It takes a government to change a country, not one man. I WILL NOT vote for persons who are in it for themselves and will jump to any team who offers the highest office. Next thing we have another situation where Sowande needs one more person and then he promises Mark the deputy Premier role to win. Mark is a good man but after the Lorna switch up debacle, I have trust issues. People need to come with strong parties, align to a party, or do not enter the race.
She ran as an indepedent.
Then she joined NDP when she realized no one would vote for her as an independent hence why she was on the campaign trail with the NDP…duh