Festival reports still pending, Premier says ‘soon’

Festival reports for recent stagings in the BVI have not yet been made public, but Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has indicated that their release is imminent.

Speaking during a recent press briefing, the Premier said the reports are expected to be tabled in the House of Assembly in the near future.

“It will be laid on the table soon. Probably, maybe the next meeting,” Premier Wheatley told reporters.

The issue arose after media questions about the absence of reports for the last two festivals. The Premier rejected suggestions that the documents had been delayed for an extended period.

“I don’t think it was a long time, no,” he said, adding that the reports had only recently reached Cabinet.

The Premier’s comments come amid continued public interest in festival-related spending and outcomes. In previous years, festival reports have been used to provide financial breakdowns, operational reviews, and recommendations for future events. However, the absence of recent reports has drawn scrutiny, particularly as questions persist about transparency and accountability in public spending.

During the exchange, media representatives also pointed to earlier commitments for financial analyses related to major entertainment events, including the Uber Soca party and other concerts. Dr Wheatley acknowledged those concerns and indicated that further updates could be provided by the relevant ministry. “We’ll have to have the… Permanent Secretary and the Ministry of Tourism report on progress on those,” he said.

The Premier did not provide specific dates for when the reports would be made public, but maintained that the process is underway.

The Virgin Islands Festival remains one of the territory’s largest annual cultural events, typically attracting residents and visitors for a series of activities, including parades, concerts, and pageants. Given its scale, festival spending and management have often been the subject of public and parliamentary review.