Premier defends overseas travel, says trips deliver results for BVI
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has rejected criticism about the frequency of his overseas travel, arguing that official trips are a necessary part of his responsibilities and produce tangible benefits for the Virgin Islands.
Speaking on the Too Inquisitive podcast with ‘Bunchie’ Kirton Wheatley during a visit to Anegada, the Premier said international travel was an expected part of the role and should not be viewed as leisure or personal travel.
“Well, let me just say this, you know, being able to travel to various meetings comes along with the job,” Dr Wheatley stated.
The Premier noted that overseas representation by senior government officials was not unique to his administration. He pointed to previous governments where other senior officials frequently undertook international engagements on behalf of the territory.
Trips directly ties to tourism promotion
According to Dr Wheatley, many of his trips are directly tied to tourism promotion, constitutional advancement and regional cooperation.
He cited a recent visit to Puerto Rico, where he helped promote the annual Christmas in July event, which attracts visitors from the neighbouring island.
“One thing they asked me, which is the Puerto Ricans asked me, you know, come and help to promote the event. So those are things that have tangible results for the Virgin Islands,” Dr Wheatley stated.
The Premier also referenced his participation in meetings hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation in New York, where regional leaders and tourism officials discussed policies affecting the tourism sector throughout the Caribbean.
He further highlighted recent constitutional discussions in London with the United Kingdom Minister for British Overseas Territories.
“I went to London recently to speak to the minister of the overseas territories about how we move forward with our constitutional negotiations and constitutional advancement,” Dr Wheatley stated.
It is not pleasure travel
The Premier dismissed suggestions that overseas travel amounted to holidays or shopping excursions, saying official trips typically involve a demanding schedule centred around meetings and engagements.
“It’s not pleasure travel. Generally, I go straight from the meetings to the hotel, or from the airport straight to the hotel to the meetings,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He added that frequent travel often took a physical toll and required long hours away from home.
“Oftentimes I get sick when I’m travelling because, you know, you expose yourself to so much when you travel,” Dr Wheatley stated.
The Premier said residents should understand that overseas missions are intended to advance the territory’s interests.
“So a person should just know that when we travel, it’s not just, you know, to have some kind of good time or to go on a shopping trip or something like that. We’re working hard on behalf of the people,” Dr Wheatley stated.
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What results mr. primeier i dont know what they give you to eat or drink but you are blind and dilusional but we the people aint, Rent still high, cost of living, groceries and utilities still high you taking wayyy more money from us in payroll tax now than before INCREMENTS CANT BE PAID UNTIL THIS CURRENT DAY and all you and your brother bawling is independence lol lol lol lol lol ayo wish go fix the country first man wasting tax payers money yielding NOTHING in results
Stop exposing yourself.
Wah! Wah! Boohoo! I must fly and have parties please don’t stop me, elected office has given me a chance to live out all my distorted sociopathic fantasies, and no one will stop me mehson, once am in office there will be lots of jamming parties and travel to see different places around the world, I ain’t participating in any a these meetings by zoom, I must touch down and enjoy top hotels, and oh my gosh I live the siren escort I get when I travel abroad.
They deliver diddly squat for the Territory but lots of free food, drink and air miles for the Premier!
the results in more parties and schemes like bank of asia contract
btw dont forget that everytime government workers travel they are given additional allowances and paid another set of cash for travel expenses aside from their big pay cheques
so basically they got pay raise and politicians put them self to highest part of the scale
then they got greedy bill
and ofc constant travels which gives you additional money aside from your big pay which can easily handle all travel expenses and most accommodations that you do not have to return
so each travel they get allowance for traveling, they get paid a lump sum of cash depending how long they spend out foreign. they do not have return and unspent cash going right back into their back account and most cases their pay alone can more than cover those expenses to they basically getting free tax money …again.
Crawl around at 15mph on pot hole ridden tracks destroying their vehicles, no water, intermittent electricity , health system on life support , inflation rampant. He can’t see, and only wants to listen to himself talking about how well he’s doing his job just deluded.
What tangible evidence is there that these trips are directly contributing to tourism promotion, constitutional progress, and regional cooperation? Meanwhile, potholes are proliferating across every island, and reliable electricity and water supplies remain at what many would consider a third-world standard. Travel costs between our sister islands are still excessively high; food prices continue to rise; utility bills are outrageous; the education system remains plagued by persistent challenges; and healthcare workers, despite being in high demand, are still among the lower paid workers in the country. We would appreciate it if you could clarify the specific advancements you are referring to, Premier.
Hey, ya’al put the BIG youth there , so now he’s showing you what they do, like raising his salary/ Travelling on taxpayers money as their luxury , dO U hear any of them complaining •¿• ~ NOpe
all he does is go sight seeing on our dime, he brings back no new ideas or new systems that have made our lives better, the guy is all talk and no action
He couldn’t or wouldn’t say how much has been spent to support his ego.
An integral part of a leader’s responsibility include Representing . And Representing often entails traveling away from home..Furthermore, Premier travelling is a sunk cost, ie., the built in cost of the position. Nonetheless, the Premier has to listen to the electorate. Cannot dictate how the electorate must feel.,Some politicians have lost traction trying to force feed how people’s feel. One can proclaim things are going well, but if are not feeling it, it is not reality. It is not happening.