Delusions! Walwyn slams Premier over disappointing budget

Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn sharply criticised Premier and Finance Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley’s recently presented 2025 budget.
In an interview on ZBVI radio, Walwyn expressed disappointment, describing the budget presentation as a missed opportunity to address the pressing issues facing the people of the Virgin Islands. According to Walwyn, the budget failed to deliver practical solutions to everyday problems, focusing instead on what he termed “delusions of grandeur.”

Walwyn shared that he expected a budget that would inspire and uplift the people, especially considering the economic challenges many residents face.
“Budgets should engender hope and inspire people of a country for a better year ahead, but what the BVI got…was an attempt to correct the bad performance of [Dr Wheatley’s] government,” he said.

He expressed dismay that the Premier’s two-hour presentation lacked tangible initiatives to improve living conditions, characterising it as “two-and-a-half-hours of word salads.”

The Sixth District Representative outlined several issues he believed should have been central to the budget, particularly the need to raise the untaxed salary ceiling from $10,000 to $15,000. He said this would “give people more disposable income and more money in their pockets,” something he viewed as essential in a time when high costs are impacting household budgets.

Cost of living

Cost of living was another concern Walwyn felt needed to be addressed. “People cannot continue to go to the supermarket with $200 and come out with half of a plastic bag of groceries,” Walwyn said. He also pointed out that small businesses are struggling, with limited budget support to help them stabilise and provide job security to employees.

Walwyn also expressed scepticism over promises in the budget, noting that many items listed for completion in the previous year remained unfulfilled. “Less than 50% of the things that [Premier Wheatley] said in that budget address for last year have been accomplished,” Walwyn stated while questioning if unmet goals from last year would be achieved this time.

Yet another issue Walwyn highlighted was the need to improve social services and support for vulnerable residents. He called for restructuring the Social Development Department to ensure financial assistance reaches those needy residents more promptly. He further mentioned increasing allowances for the most vulnerable and reviewing pensions to improve support for senior citizens.

Reflecting on the budget’s infrastructure plans, Walwyn acknowledged the proposed $100 million loan for road repairs and other projects. However, he slammed the government’s decision to secure the loan at an interest rate of 6.5%. “You could have gotten money far cheaper than that,” he commented.

The District Representative voiced cautious optimism, hoping the government could successfully execute its projects, especially after recent heavy rains highlighted the territory’s fragile infrastructure.