Premier commended for largest budget in BVI history
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has publicly commended Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley for guiding what he described as the largest budget in the history of the Virgin Islands.
Rymer made the remarks during his contribution to the 2026 budget debate in the House of Assembly.
“This is the largest budget in the history of these Virgin Islands,” Rymer told lawmakers, noting that the territory has moved well beyond the days when a $100 million national budget was considered a major milestone. “Now we are beyond half a billion dollars. And who is the keeper of this ledger? The Premier. You must be congratulated.”
Rymer said the size and scope of the 2026 budget would be closely tied to Dr Wheatley’s legacy as head of government and finance minister, arguing that the Premier demonstrated steady leadership during a particularly challenging period in the territory’s political history.
“Regardless of what words will be spoken and the names that will be called, the legacy will state that this budget has been under your leadership,” Rymer said. “Based on your legacy, it would show that you held a steady hand during this time.”
The minister referenced the fallout from the Commission of Inquiry and the April 2022 Order in Council, which placed the territory’s system of governance under threat. He said the government, the House of Assembly and wider society worked together to preserve democratic institutions and meet the requirements set by the United Kingdom.
“I think it was just this year that everything for the COI was completed. That shows the time invested in adhering to what was requested,” Rymer said, adding that he believed the Premier’s leadership was central to expectations that the Order in Council would soon be lifted. “Premier, I applaud you for that.”
Praise amid criticism
However, Rymer’s praise comes amid sustained criticism from Opposition members, who argue that while the 2026 budget is historically large, it does not sufficiently improve the lives of ordinary Virgin Islanders. Opposition legislators contend that the budget is heavily weighted toward recurrent expenditure — including wages, allowances and operational costs — rather than capital projects and investments aimed at driving long-term development and economic transformation.
They have also questioned whether the scale of the budget translates into meaningful improvements in infrastructure, healthcare access, cost-of-living relief, and opportunities for small businesses and young people.
Additional concerns have been raised about debt and borrowing, with critics warning that increased spending could place future generations under financial strain.
Government members, meanwhile, have defended the fiscal approach, arguing that debt levels remain manageable and that responsible borrowing is necessary to maintain essential services, stabilise the economy and fund priority initiatives following years of uncertainty linked to the Commission of Inquiry and global economic shocks.
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Kiss up culture filled with Yes men… what happened to doing more with less and being efficient?
Each consecutive year in the past the budget has been rising. so each year the primer has been having a bigger budget. So whats the big deal?
Ayo silly rabbit Asking where is the money Coming from?
Yes. Good job.
Intending to spend money we don’t have.
Debts rolling in without a plan to repay.
Our finance minister can’t read numbers.
We can add this to the billions of Government revenue the BVI has had since 1990. And what have we got for it?
Great roads
Great water and sewerage system
Great waste management system
Great public education system
Sustainable public healthcare system
why is he being commended? A budget is simply a PLAN. Will we realize the revenue and if we do, will it be on the backs of businesses? We are recognizing and rewarding the wrong things. Let’s accomplish something that really warrants recognition.
Exactly correct observation. These people who run this government are clueless.
They are the same ones who made a $25M error in the 2024 budget, where an $11.7 million allocation for public servant salary increases was found to be short by over $20 million, with actual costs exceeding $25 million. This blunder, revealed in mid-2024, led to a fiscal shortfall, a hiring freeze, travel restrictions. As per the Auditor General’s report by Ms. Sonia Webster: ““There were indications that the cost of the implementation would be substantially higher than the consultants’ estimates, but this information was not presented when the decision was brought before Cabinet.”
She added that the “absence of a reliable, independent estimate” was a key factor in the overspend.
Then there’s the Bank of Asia debacle.
And now Wheatley and “Financial Secretary” Frett, both of whom should be tossed out of office at the next opportunity, are leading the charge for the Beef Island Airport runway expansion. God help the BVI, because none of the idiots in charge of this government are going to…
how is that an achievement planning to spend the most
When you grabbing at straws to find something good to say about a bad situation. Remind me of the spokesperson for the Trump presidency.
I mean after increasing all the politicians pay and making them start at the top of the pay scale while everyone else start from the bottom i could see why the budget is the biggest…them getting paid more then people in more developed nations while ours look like poop but with rich millionaires
Do they all sit there telling each other how wonderful they are while the BVI rots around them?? These people are high as kites.
Having the largest budget in history is great but not knowing how to effectively or best use the funds is another thing.
I’m surprised we even heard from Rymer considering where his head is.
Where does the money go?
How is it spend
Who benefits
What are the priorities in terms of the projects
I don’t see anything Commendable about this.
A Budget is just a Forecast of Projected Revenue Versus Projected Expenditure. It will be very interesting to see How well this Administration will work this Large Budget and if The State of the Territory will show any Progression having such a Hefty Projected increase. Only Time will Tell.
I don’t get it though. What’s there to commend? The annual budget has always historically grown as each year passes no matter the administration in power. A Premier being commended for the “largest budget in history” is like commending a 7 year old for growing taller as the years pass. It’s by nature, it HAS to grow.
By this standard, we’ll probably commend him again next year for “the largest budget in history”..
His effort is to fool the “lil man”
It grows every year; the question is why so high? How are our revenues looking
Factor in the $100 million. We Want to see the revenue side. How are we paying back that loans etc. we want to see. Simple Credit and debit. Where are the accountants?
Its alarming to me that there is talk about becoming independent! Great you have passed a budget but how come our island looks like a pigsty? How come I smell sewer every time I drive around. How about you take some of the budget and create the systems and laws to keep this place clean. All of you in government should be ashamed of yourself. Independence? Good luck. Anyone who really cares about this island wont be here to see you fail. Please give us signs that you really care about this beautiful Island and the wonderful people that live here.