Climate Change Board back in after 3-year gap
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stressed the urgency and importance of he Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund Board (CCTFB), which was recently re-constituted after being disbanded over three years ago by former premier of the Virgin Islandas, Andrew Fahie.
“We are literally feeling the heat, and as we start June, we are reminded of some of the severe mal-effects of climate change, like stronger hurricanes,” Premier Wheatley said during a ceremony to mark the appointment of members of the Board recently.
Dr Wheatley emphasised that the BVI was on the global frontlines of the climate change challenge and added that there are no shortage of urgent local projects and programmes that would benefit from funding support through the Trust Fund.
The non-government members of the Board include Chairman Edward Childs, Deputy Chairperson John Klein, Dr Shannon Gore and Ronnie Lettsome. Former members Dr Katherine Smith and Shelly Bend reportedly expressed a desire to continue but are unable to do so since current circumstances do not permit.
“When I met with the environment team a few weeks ago, I indicated to them that the environment and climate change will be high on the government’s agenda under my leadership,” Premier Wheatley said. “I want to take this opportunity to personally apologise to you for the previous disruption in your service as members and assure you that you will have this government’s full support and respect as you fulfil your mandate on the Board.”
Premier Wheatley said his government’s commitment of support includes providing the CCTFB with the necessary seed funding to ensure that it can make significant strides towards operationalisation this year.
The territory’s leader described the Board as the financing vehicle that will ensure that the BVI can attract large-scale funding from a myriad of sources, including international donors, and strategically and equitably distribute those funds to ensure that the territory is more resilient to the effects of climate change.
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They are back after his government dismissed them for no reason. I just cannot believe that the BVI people put back the VIP in government. We got to be a set of crazy people. This VIP has done more damage to this country over the last 4 years than was ever done in the history of country combined. We cannot be thinking straight. Only God could help this place. And what is worse is that the Premier is acting brand new when he was a major part of our destruction.
We did not it was the lady in the corner and her brother mark.
So what happened to all the money from the “climate change levy” which was being imposed during those 3 years?
2019 VIP win election. CCTFB disbanded
2021 CoI in session all year
2022 VIP Premier arrested, UP takes over
2023 VIP forms new government with Lorna Smith as Deputy Premier. CCTFB re constituted
So 1 CoI recommendation has been completed. 46 to go!
3 years too late. The place burning up and we in hurricane season again but ok, what else can one do but support progress…even when it seems to be backward progress. All the best regardless.
How much is this costing us ?
It’s all a sham. The board can do nothing to alter climate change except give up their government cars and walk
Pay the Bvi Ports their increments. Its amazing to see how much u guys lies just to win votes. God is watching remember a set of liars.
God help u guys. We need our monies tell me how u can past a budget. And still the ports leaders can tell u there is no money but when ask about increments they says they waiting for the budget to past. Wickedness.
2020
2021
2022
Now 2023
Stil no money.
Renting expensive place.
Patsy pay us our monies
Were people born yesterday, have we forgotten rudimentary facts such as a planetary cycle? Guess what, the climates changes and by far the main driving force of climate change is that big ball of heat in the sky!
Take a look around, the climate in the BVI has not changed! We still go through cycles of hotter years and wetter years and so on and so forth. this has been going on since forever.
Lastly, guess what, vegetation thrives on CO2. If we remove it from the atmosphere, guess what? We become more dependent on Monsanto and the agricultural conglomerates to provide us with food.
Think about it!