Premier eyes climate resilience funding for BVI in UK budget
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has revealed plans to submit a proposal to the United Kingdom (UK) for funding to support the BVI’s climate resilience efforts, with hopes it could be included in the UK’s next budget.
Speaking in a post-Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) interview recently, Dr Wheatley highlighted the proposal as a key success of the recent UK visit.
“As it pertains to Climate Resilience, we have a proposal that’s going to the UK. They say they want to see it and examine it, so that potentially it can be included in their budget for next year,” Dr Wheatley stated.
This marks a hopeful step forward for the Premier, who has long advocated for climate funding.
He noted that while previous UK administrations did not provide adequate support, the current leadership, including Overseas Territories (OT) Minister Stephen Doughty, appeared more receptive to the BVI’s needs.
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Dr. Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace:
“I am firmly of the belief that the future will show that this whole hysteria over climate change was a complete fabrication.”
He is not wrong.
The rhetoric surrounding this issue is wildly overstated and often divorced from reality. Yes, it warrants attention and thoughtful planning, but it is far from the existential crisis proclaimed by some. Technological advancements are likely to address many of the challenges over time. Meanwhile, it has conveniently become a lucrative opportunity for those exploiting public fear for financial gain. Much of the hysteria will subside under Trump administration.
If our politicians are given money by the developed countries they will steal it.
So we get some money. What exactly do we propose to do with it, other than the usual disappearance into a bottomless pit? We cant do anything about hurricanes and earthquakes, and it would be difficult to build sea defences to prevent the submersion of our relatively small areas of low lying land. Anegada is a lost cause. Our contribution to global warming is miniscule. Providing enough power, from whatever source, so we can all drive electric cars, whilst expensive for us, will have little effect, and probably will be negated by the cost of disposing of dead EV batteries. They will need to be exported, at some cost, and not just thrown in the bush.
The UK is not obligated to provide financial support to any of its OT’s for Climate Resilience and it never will provide support.
Each OT manages it own unique climate change challenges with monetary resources generated in the OT. BVI has its ‘environmental tax’ and that income alone should sustain the BVI unless corruption dilutes its collection and application.
But they do have a morl duty and obligation to pay a people they are owing for work done, riches and a profound life in all areas of humanity. Yet, they are yet to acceed to thir moral compass.
Premier, I wish you cleaned the Sir Olva Georges Plaza after your Great March. Government has to set the standard! The area was left filthy with trash everywhere. Should people not litter and have pride? Yes! But should the Government have a clean up crew after their events and not leave for the next working day? Yes! The same thing happens after the Village. You drive by and there’s trash everywhere. A disgrace!
Just like the environmental taxes collected from tourists on entry….
This money will end in the pockets of cronies.
90% of the hoopla about climate change is just as title of this new release states: “eyeing funding”.
Roger Burnett