Premier claps back at Opposition for criticisms on Prospect Reef
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has responded to criticisms from members of the parliamentary Opposition regarding the stalled restoration of the state-owned Prospect Reef Hotel, which has been in disrepair for several years.
He pointed out that the hotel’s condition stems from the previous National Democratic Party government, of which all current Opposition legislators were members, except for Third District Representative Julian Fraser.
During a House of Assembly session on September 20, Premier Wheatley remarked that these members have little basis for criticism, as they had “every opportunity before to make Prospect Reef a reality.”
“If I was the one who was in government and I had the opportunity to do it, I would just be quiet because all I would be doing is bring attention to my own inability to make it happen,” the Premier said, reaffirming his commitment to advancing the restoration project.
Wheatley blasted the Opposition’s tactics, stating, “And then we’re going to criticise someone else for not completing a project halfway through a term?”
At a press conference on September 16, he discussed potential projects on Tortola and the outer islands. He emphasised that the board members of the Prospect Reef Hotel are making significant progress and that an expression of interest for the property will soon be issued.
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boys will be boys / well at least , the UK & THE GOVERNOR WON’T BE A SCAPEGOAT IN THIS RODEO
the people will perish…. fix up the damn place beautify the damn place have something tourist or locals could look forward to have fun doing, good places to go, good roads to drive on, look at neighboring islands just as small or smaller their airport could land 747’s, jetskis not illegal, motorcycles not illegal.. all i got from living in the bvi is y’all will go all out to stop growth
Call em out
How long has the VIp been in power?
SERIOUSLY, I AM SO SO TIRED OF THIS NYNCON***P. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE HIM REMOVED FROM THIS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
That’s all his l**y self good for. Talk talk and no action. And when he is clapping back I hope he know that he is actually clapping back at his deputy’s husband. He was the Premier and Minister of Tourism with the NDP. Delilah sit down right there while Natalio chastise her husband. What a woman!
All Natalio can do is complain.
Get to work little boy, or step aside for some adults to do it for you.
Best suggestion I have heard yet:
Turn it into an educational facility. Hospitality, marine biology, sailing and marine studies, swimming and water safety.
OR just rebuild and let it become a failed, ugly hotel and conference centre that no one will want to use.
Education is the investment onto our future. All you politicians do is ignore our future and race for the money and the quick moments of glory.
There is already a “Marine Studies Centre” at Paraquita Bay.
This place was purchased by a past NDP administration for Culinary Arts and Hospitality Training. They lost that election and the VIP administration was all to happy to allow it to languish to where its at right now. The NDP also never got it off the ground after regaining administrative power in past years since.
Rather than support and push the project the then VIP built a “culinary building” at mansion hall. Not sure if it is even being used to date.
Now persons calling for it to be turned into a educational facility.
“voting has consequnces”
will solve this problem before any BVI politician or party.
Let us be realistic here. It does not matter which government is in power, reality is reality. The reality with Prospect Reef is that it will take minimum $50mil to turn it into something useful to boost our tourism product. The reality is, Government should NOT be in the hotel or most businesses that the private sector is usually involved with. The reality is, any investor spending $50mil or more will want certain things in return.
The reality is, a few clueless BVIslanders with nothing to lose will start the usual invaders, white man this and that attacks and nothing will happen. The same people will then complain that nothing is happening. Life is REAL. Nobody of substance wants to invest in the BVI with the stupid mentality that we have towards investments. Look at the other Caribbean islands over the past 20 years. St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia. Look around the BVI and ask yourself where all the Caribbean Nationals that used to live here and work in hospitality and gave good service? Most of them have gone back home because the tourism sector is booming with development. Meanwhile we sit here happy with rundown Vi**age C, overpriced M***as and ‘never open’ Treasure Isle. The BVI is a f**king s**t show.
Tis tru?
Mos of them gone back home??
How did I miss that…My eyes aan ears dus agree.
The prison built pending their arrival is full to capacity there spawns are the indelible bad seeds…and they keep on being imported and installed.Empty the prison and export them to their booming countries. Clean the swamp and ease the negative energy and the bad karma.
BVI broke now and getting crumbs from wherever.
Make room for a demographic that can spend
and promote positive growth and a crimefree community.
https://bvinews.com/90m-deal-to-redevelop-prospect-reef-failed-govt-seeks-new-investors/
Andrew and his Govt had the opportunity as well, so he needs to stop blaming other party and develop the dam thing quickly.
Read ‘Jokes’ post above and you will understand. Nobody is bringing millions here to spend to have to deal with dope head crazy radio hosts ranting and pretend clueless journalists causing confusion. THe BVI had its time. The reputable people have moved on to jurisdictions that are serious about business and that is why the BVI is stagnant and struggling economically right now. If not for financial services revenue we would be right alongside Haiti with poverty.
BVI makes me want to leave. Money slow and prices high.
This man needs to realise that in a position such as his there will be adverse criticism, instead of flaring up each and every time he is criticized. It is the nature of the position for everyone in the limelight.
Disgusting now to hear him always playing tit-for-tat like a spoiled, moody child.
Hopefully all the investors will get the money they were cheated out of by the VI Government (and failed by all subsequent VI Governments) when the functioning hotel was bought for $6,000,000 and have now turned into near zero.
Looking at Prospect Reef it is like looking at a smaller version of what has happened to the VI over these past years.
Prospect Reef hopefully soon going to be taken over by a new entity. That could be best for the VI too.
minus whale they sell the property to IGY it would make a great luxury marina
Sell the damned place. The government should not be in the hotel business. This is not soviet russia.
@Well welldont you know that Delilah will do anything for position and fame that means she don’t care what Natalio Wheatley say about her husband she a two face woman always been.
I agreed with let nature take it time…look how the culture center was broken down now it the swamp starting to come back.. all it need is one more heavy rain and it going go back to being a pond
Put 6th Formers down there, also a one yr diploma nursing and teachers college with boarding at a small cost for those that wish to stay on campus .These Nurses can get the basics and become assistant nurse, The teachers will be qualified just for Primary Schools only…They can work and further their studies if they wish abroad.
Work for the country not politics
Fofget the blame game and forge ahead
Enough of you ranting
Instead of blowing hot air at every little criticism what he should do is at least bush the place get public works to put some drainage in while the place in undeveloped. Who do you think is going to be interested in a this delipidated, mud infiltrated forest unless it is at a giveaway price. Anyone who buy it now would just be buying the land. So all previous governments who turned down offers of over $70 millions must hung their heads in shame as they will be lucky to get 10 million for the land now. Pleas sell it to Social Security for more housing development. Please.
This man been the head of the territory for 5 years or something and still talking about NDP which was almost 8 years ago? Jeez grow the ell up! You have been in charge for more than a term now and haven’t done squat! I blame Lorna for why we are in this predicament of leaderless leadership! Playing politics while our country is in the worst deplorable condition of the past 30 years!
sell it