Premier encourages voters to re-elect Kye Rymer
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has voiced strong confidence in Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer, saying he is capable of fully modernising the BVI’s infrastructure if given another term in office.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation Bill, 2026, the Premier said Rymer has performed well despite having the infrastructure portfolio – the central source of frustration in the society.
“I have full confidence that, through his sustained leadership, he will overhaul, revamp, rehabilitate, and modernise the infrastructure of the Virgin Islands. And I believe that he is taking the right steps — the steps necessary to be able to turn this situation around. And I believe that the people of the Virgin Islands are privileged to have someone such as himself in the position. And if you want to get solid results, you will keep him right there,” Premier Wheatley said.
He inherited deeply entrenched problems
He acknowledged that Rymer inherited deeply entrenched problems, including ageing water distribution systems, failing sewerage infrastructure and deteriorating roads — all compounded by limited funding in the early years of the administration. He said the minister was placed in a “difficult position” after coming to office without the financial resources needed to address those challenges.
“He did not have the money to solve the water challenge, and he did not have the money to solve the sewage challenge,” Dr Wheatley said, explaining that the situation only changed after the government secured major external financing.
According to the Premier, amid the frustrations, Rymer’s approach has been defined by persistence and problem-solving rather than political posturing. “When we run into a challenge, we come up with solutions,” Premier Wheatley said, contrasting that approach with what he described as dissenting voices in the community that highlight potholes and service failures for political gain.
He also praised Rymer’s efforts to secure access to asphalt and improve the government’s capacity to maintain roads once rehabilitation works are completed, acknowledging that setbacks have occurred but insisting they are being addressed.
Beyond technical competence, Prmeir Wheatley said Rymer brings a personal standard of excellence to his work. “This is how he lives his life — at a high standard,” the Premier said. “He believes in giving his best to whatever it is he’s involved in.”
Rymer’s record
Since coming into office, Minister Rymer has overseen several high-profile initiatives that have drawn mixed reactions from the public. Under his leadership, the Cabinet declared water infrastructure a national critical priority to accelerate repairs and system upgrades, responding directly to long-standing water shortages across the territory. He has also advanced the long-awaited runway extension at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and is credited for non-stop flights from the US to the BVI after a two-decade cessation.
Still, public perception of Rymer’s performance has been mixed: supporters credit him with pushing long-deferred infrastructure upgrades and sustainability initiatives, while critics argue that some efforts — especially around water reliability and road maintenance — have yet to deliver consistently noticeable improvements in everyday life.
Nonetheless, his visibility on major infrastructure files keeps him at the centre of debate on the territory’s development path.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
I have two things to say:
1. Kye is the worse performing minister of works we have had. Everything under him has failed: admin complex after 7 years still undone, roads in a mess, water in a mess, market place is a mess, west end ferry terminal is still a mess. He has just not performed.
2. Natalio asking for Kye to be re-elected but he should be asking for himself to be re-elected because the word on him in Long Look is very very bad. He is even worse than Dr. Pickering.
and might I ask, what advancement has there been in the runway extension? Pure talk talk talk.
I agree. I can’t say I am filled with confidence here, given the performance in that role for the past 7 years.
Is this a joke? I know time flying but we still in February…it is not the 1st of April yet…republish this on April Fools Day. It will be more fitting then.
Oooh, he did not HAVE money for this and did not HAVE money for that…how many clownish all night parties does it take to buy one pipe and one shovel of tarmac? GTHOH. Get all of them O-U-T!!!
I been living where I am living within the two terms your gvt has been in office, and I have NEVER had consistent water flow to my home. At the end of your second term you addressing these age-old issues, to what entice me to vote for you to wait another two terms for actual work to be done?! Lmao! Hey, before any of you suckered vy for a position, do your research on the woes within that post. I don’t want to hear about your shortcomings, because you KNEW what you were getting into! For such a small place, we always seem to never get anything right! Why should basic necessities be an everyday problem for us? Why?! Miss me with the sympathy vote! I been needing what I need for years, it has not been met by neither one of you! Who has sympathy for us? No matter how long I have to stand, I will be at the polls!
To fix that big pothole at the exit of Rite Way Pasea before election. That Pothole has been there from late November 2025 and this weekend someone throw gravel in it which is now almost washed away.
I think Rite Way 1975 limited could fix that pothole . I think rite way has enough money to fix that pothole hole at their exit . They don’t care about their customers at all
Let PWD get cracking and fix the pothole.
To add…..it’s also on their property.
Waiting seven years now for a solution to the raw sewage being pumped into Road Reef Marina and the surrounding roadway and parking lot. Promises, promises,no action. This is the worst run Ministry.
Please find someone with actual effective management experience or just ask the UK to send someone who will institute proper engineering and long-lasting solutions.
Why are we overlooking the havoc and inaction by long-term Minister of Works before him??? It’s sad that it took some of us two decades to wake up and hold politicians feet to the fire, but the damage caused by others for many years CANNOT be undone by the snap of a finger.
While Fraser and Pickering are allowed to walk about without the responsibility of improving the ministries they were responsible for damaging, Rymer has been a very engaging and active minister.
We won’t even talk about the private contractors who filled their pockets for roads and sewage over two decades and gave us temporary fixes without strategic long lasting systems that we could appreciate.
I agree with the premier, if we are still giving dinosaurs like Fraser a chance, then give Kye the opportunity to follow through.
You obviously don’t drive the same roads as the rest of us! NOR sound like you suffer from water issues as the majority. Please GTFOH.
The water woes have been an issue for decades. Where have you been??? More water running in the streets than through the pipes is why we have so many water trucks. I’m glad that you’re awake now though.
After 7 years they making excuses? Give us a break. Kye is a waste of time. Plus he is a deceptive, troublemaker underneath. He pretends to be nice in front of your face but he is demon Bevin’s your back.
I can attest to what you’re saying. What he acts like in front of you is not what he truly is. It’s the type of person that stab you in the back and leave you to drown in your blood. He use people and then step right over you when he done get what he want. Those 7 years of enjoyment with we tax money will turn into 7 years of of hell. The devil is in the picture. He didn’t do the work. Kye you fired.
Have friends here visiting and did an island tour yesterday driving right around Tortola. They were absolutely shocked at rhe roads asking how we live like this. I was so embarrassed. Either the premier or Kye needs to own this and they should resign as are clearly incapable.
Revelation is upon us !
so he visted a site told us flat out no we could not put ina sea defence without employing someone else to do it, then 4 years later town and county tell us to do the very thing we wanted to do but now its too late and more than 10,000ft2 of beach front property has been lost
@ OH so Good eggs. You got short term memory. Forget when the pathfinder started fixing the holes there around Fort Burt and government put a stop to it?
They made up with that $50,000 check. Just tell the other churches to go throw concrete in the other disasters.
Well, after reading the comments above, it appears that despite the Premier’s endorsement of the Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer for re-election, the public has soured on his tenure. A pot hole too many.
As such, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but somebody has to do the job. Sorry Kye. You are a gonna.
Start making the mental transition to private life. I wish I had better news to deliver, but it doesnt look good.
Thank your for your service or lack thereof. All the best in your future endevours.
P.S. Get in a few overseas trip before you go. Eat well while there. Ill remember your GQ style and your swag. Bye.
Unfortunately that’s not how it will play out. D5 will still elect him irrespective of his failings and shortcomings. Same for the majority of the districts. Once his district sees him as doing for them (contracts, sponsorships etc.) directly; the rest of us are salt.
From D1 – D9 it’s those voters that setup the players for the game of who is in the government and who’s in the opposition. It could very well be that next election the opposition has 1-2 reps. and th e government with a majority. Which party(s) make up the government is yet to be seen. But the districts have to ask themselves isn’t current representation good for the entire country or just them….
Well Stated my friend? Well stated
This is exactly my sentiments LOL. I reading and saying, “well Lawdd that’s it fe Kye” wow wow wow. It will be a grand Poli.show if he can turn his shine around in such little time because ain’t looking good by the Poli.reviews.
Good day Sir Wheathley! How are you sir? Sir Please don’t worry about Kye come 2027 cause all of allu going home for a mini vacation to sit and reflect on the madness you’ve caused 4 the last 4 years being in office also I hope every penny gets spent like you’ve promised.
Rymer is the surest of all to get re-elected so no need to ask
I smell a snap election in the making… Didn’t vote for them before not gonna vote for them now.
@Resident…A snap election is political suicide at this point.
I may vote for him if this gov finally sort out my papers/rights!
I like Hon. Rymer as a person but his management skills are quite lacking. The market place was overpriced and unsuited for the purpose intended. The Economic Zone was and is totally unnecessary. A simple upgrade of the basketball courts is awesome and seems to be properly utilised. Spending $2 million on this project was a waste of resources. The Admin Complex, oh boy, what can I say about that? Over $10 million already spent and no progress in sight or in the near future, I should say. It is about time we vote for persons who have the requisite management skills and futuristic thinking and insight. If not, we will continue to spend over $500 million yearly but still suffering and stagnant. Let’s add up all the rent, travel and party moneys spent in the last 7 years and we could have had new pipes installed for water to our homes, beautiful roads, scholarships for teachers, nurses and doctors, etc, a gym at the High School, and much, much more. We DO NOT have a money problem. We have a management problem. Let’s face it, they are nice guys and we love them, but they are terrible money managers. They overspend on every project and to add insult to injury, every project still takes forever to complete. We cannot continue like this. We can do better, much better.
All the vip need to be voted out but who to replace them?
All of dem waste
Fix that manhole in front of Pickering house!!!! I am begging you Sowande!!!!! It is despicable now!
Fix that pothole in front of Pickering house ah beg!!!!!!