Premier optimistic about making RDA permanent

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said he is committed to making the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) a permanent institution in the BVI.

“It is my intention to have a permanent agency. It’s my intention to move that forward,” Dr Wheatley said during an interview on JTV recently.

The RDA was established in 2018 to manage recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Since then, it has overseen various projects, including rebuilding infrastructure and public facilities across the territory.

Wheatley acknowledged that while the agency has faced some challenges, its project completions highlight its effectiveness. “They have been able to complete quite a number of works. Persons talk, some persons criticise, but what is beyond a shadow of a doubt is when they start a project, generally they get you to completion,” he said.

He added that transitioning the RDA into a permanent agency would involve refining its operations. “We do have some challenges in some areas. I think we have to discuss because every institution can learn from its errors, its mistakes, and do better,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Premier noted that he values the agency’s work ethic. “I like the attitude of the people who work at the agency. I like their mindset,” he said.

Discussions about the RDA’s permanence have been ongoing amid concerns about its sustainability and operational structure. Dr Wheatley indicated that improving the agency’s operations will be part of the process.
“It’s my hope and my wish that through the process of making them permanent, we can perhaps address some of the challenges we’ve noticed and experienced with the agency,” he said.

Although Dr Wheatley did not specify a timeline for the transition, he underscored his commitment to moving the process forward.

The Premier shared that making the RDA permanent would enhance the territory’s capacity to manage critical infrastructure projects more efficiently.