Premier: Other places spent over $1M for Kartel, VI only spent $220K
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley (right) joined dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel on stage during the artiste’s performance in March 2024.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has mounted a fresh defence of the government’s controversial near-quarter-million-dollar sponsorship of the Vybz Kartel concert, arguing that other jurisdictions spent more than $1 million to secure performances by the Jamaican dancehall artiste.
Speaking on the Too Inquisitive podcast with Lawrence ‘Bunchie’ Kirton-Wheatley, the Premier said critics had focused on the size of the government’s contribution without considering what other destinations were prepared to spend to attract the entertainer.
“So I gave a sponsorship of $220,000 for Vybz Kartel. People thought that that was a lot. But other places spent about $1.1, $1.2 million for Vybz Kartel. And that’s because they saw the value that he brought to their society and their economy,” Premier Wheatley stated.
The remarks signal the latest effort by the Premier to justify public funding for entertainment events, which have drawn criticism from opposition figures, religious groups and members of the public who argued that the money could have been directed towards infrastructure and other pressing needs.
The government first announced its $220,000 sponsorship in October 2024. At the time, Premier Wheatley described the expenditure as an investment in tourism and predicted that the territory would recoup the money through increased economic activity and tax revenues.
Following the March 2025 concert, the Premier declared the event a success, citing hotel bookings, rental car demand, vendor sales and increased visitor arrivals. He argued that entertainment tourism forms part of the territory’s broader economic strategy and said businesses across the territory benefited from the influx of patrons.
In defending the investment in 2024, Dr Wheatley pointed to international examples such as Toronto’s Caribana festival and argued that economic studies had demonstrated the value of major entertainment events. He suggested similar assessments would help demonstrate the benefits of entertainment tourism in the Virgin Islands.
Still no economic impact assessment
And after the concert, the Premier told residents that the event’s economic impact would be analysed and that the findings would be shared with the public once the analysis was completed.
To date, however, no comprehensive economic impact assessment has been made public, leaving residents without independently verified figures on visitor arrivals, government revenues, visitor spending or the overall return on the public investment.
The Premier also argued that spending on entertainment events does not detract from other government initiatives, suggesting that his government reappropriates unspent funds budgeted for other activities.
“What I basically do is at the end of the year, we have millions of unspent dollars,” the Premier said. “So I generally use money that has not been spent because the problem with getting stuff done in the Virgin Islands is not money. People don’t realise it when they say, well, you don’t fix the roads. It’s not money. It’s time.”
The absence of publicly available data has remained a central criticism of the government’s entertainment strategy. Critics have argued that while the Premier frequently cites economic benefits from concerts and festivals, the public has not been provided with empirical evidence to assess whether the investments delivered the promised returns. Similar concerns were raised when the government funded the VI Music Festival and other entertainment initiatives.
Despite the criticism, Premier Wheatley indicated that entertainment tourism remains a key part of his administration’s economic strategy.
“He’s like a global icon,” the Premier said of the Jamaica dancehall entertainer. “To be able to bring somebody like that is going to cost money.”
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Are you serious? Comparing Toronto with Tortola to justify the spend? Insane. Truly insane. Go fix a road and come back and talk. Until then, just admit to a mistake and then zip it. For good.
Mr Premier dont let hubris be your guide . Chalk this up to experience and move on. And if fixing the raods is about time and not funding as you atate then develop a system to better utilize time.
For this premiere Wheatley to double down and say Vybz Kartel brought value to BVI and other places, I for one has seen the value of increase daylight robbery at pier park and other crimes due to the inspiration and institutional guidance of premiere Wheatley office, tell me which country Vybz Kartel go to and there is better living conditions because he went there, I put it to you sowandie that it is the BVI tax payers who brought value to Vybz Kartel life, he is able to build new properties and drive and flex in big rides, I put it to sowandie that if he had paid for an expensive private school for his kids and went there and saw Vybz Kartel teaching and councilling his child that you wouldn’t be please after putting so much into your child, so too the old people paid the taxes that built this country and now have to do with less in their golden years while this young boy premiere spree the tax monies on Jamaican criminal that does jail time for murder and violence to come and be a role model for the future generations. It just shows that natalio Wheatley is not mature as yet and has been using the office of premiere to live out his distorted soc***athic fantasies that he is been deprived of as a child in poverty. i even listen to his rebuttal to hon. Vanterpool and he stated that they are attacking him, so in his ego he dismisses the team VIP and it’s all about him, Sherrie decastro has more credibility than him, but if they had spoken out against the Vybz Kartel quarter million USD payout like Lorna smith did they would have been shining today pass sowandie, mehson this dude have the guts to mention what other country paid Vybz Kartelover a million dollars when they are independent countries with corrupt thieving politicians that can raid the tax payers treasury without any consequences, no wonder sowandie fantasizes independence, there he will be unhinged, I guess he would ask the police force to pepper spray and tear gas and shoot live ammunition at the BVI people for questioning his actions, at least that is what the other independent country does to their people since they are answerable to no man.
You are bitter and old and pass your time. Spend more time buying your tombstone leave politics to those who will be alive.
For this, for the failed music fest, for the AA party, for all the others.
You promise and fail to deliver on everything, if you really believe that the amount government has spent on parties via you then justify it as you’ve promised every time you sign another check.
Comparative suffering is why suffering doesn’t end. Apply that here. Context matters!!
This turtle boi lost sooo much when Parillon said he pull fleece over His face to get that money, and he will give back to education dept. Up to now no amount. I could never believe a leader will be on Stage decrying such an insult to the people of a country. Your days are numbered boi so carry on .
Leftover money? For concert and not roads? Or to squander under the guise of legitimate contracts but are really being filtered down into people’s pockets?
Where is the economic impact assessment for that party and for the soca cruise party? Is the present government qualified to stand for election at all?
Why is it apparently needed necessary and vital for this miniscule territory to spend as much as $1.00 on the likes of Vybes Cartel. It is a fact that millions per year,we spend in UScurrencyto house clothe and feed their countrymen in our built for their arrival cage, countrymen and children of all evils ,in addition to a multinational police force to have them observed and corralled. Our schools entry level to departure has been turned into a show tell and learn the makings of c drug trade.Grow some sense Premier. You are a brfig and a disappointment big time.
Be gone,you evil farts.
Thats not the point Knucklehead, that is 220k that could have been put to better use when the country needs it, we didnt NEED vybez kartel, strpppss
I am inclined to believe that our current Premier,
is a functional member of the Caribbean segment keeping the deadly cartel alive along with the accompanyjng fatal addictions lunacy murders etc.
How dis man dare open his porthole with utterances I see here is unbelievable..but tis my own eyes fo true bearing witness.
This Is The Stupidness People of BVI People Woke up to Read This Morning? Brother, You sitting at The Back Of The Class. You Need to Come To The Front. People Suffering Daily From Lack Of Water, Electricity on a Regular Basis and All You Can talk
About Is Vibes Kartel and Party Money? Damn!!! The Country is falling apart and The So-Called Leaders Talking about Party? Makes My Effing Blood Run Cold. Sargassum wreaking Havoc across The territory For Years Now and No Plan Of Relief has been put in Place and Kartel Is The Subject? We here in VG want To Know when Government will decide to help the Residents Living at Coppermine and Other Areas of Virgin Gorda who on a Daily Basis Have NO Water Every Morning and Throughout The Whole day and Night. The Money You are Paying for Partying With Kartel, Why Can’t You use Some of That Money to Fix The Water and electricity Woes Throughout The Territory Which will Make Life a Bit Easier for The People of The territory? It is Crystal Clear to see that This Administration Is Over its Head when it Comes To Governing a 2 By 4 Territory. The Virgin Islands deserve Better!!! But Then It’s The People To Blame. You Can’t continue To Do The Same Sh!t every 4 Years and Expect a Different Result. Come On People Of VG, Sense Up Yourselves and Think District and NOT SELF!!!! Your Friends and Families are Suffering. STOP Being Selfish!!!
Thats because they can offered it and their econoomy is boosting. Dis mule need saddling. I cant believe this even came out his mouth.
The only way to improve is to accept correction and do better. But when you’re incapable of accepting critism that means you think you are perfect. That means you have a mental problem. Everyone makes mistakes, it is part of growth. But to never accept that you’ve made mistakes is why you will never improve and everyone else around you will. That will leave you behind everyone else. A leader of a nation cannot be behind everyone else or else they shouldnt be leading. We need more maturity from out premier.
Premier Wheatley’s defence of the $220,000 Vybz Kartel sponsorship leans on a shaky comparison, claiming other jurisdictions spent over $1 million. But without the long promised economic impact assessment, the public is being asked to accept vibes in place of verified data.
The issue isn’t what other countries paid. It’s that residents still have no independent figures on visitor arrivals, revenue, or return on investment. And the Premier’s claim that the money came from “unspent funds” doesn’t answer why essential projects remain undone while entertainment spending is fast tracked.
Until the numbers are released, this remains political posturing dressed up as economic strategy. As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy and in this case, the thief of accountability
Why the local think that only the foreigners should make money in entertainment? the local who contributes gets peanuts! Because they from there and they know them and the family envy and Grudge are serious spirits. But time will tell the witchcraft, and magicians will fail so is the thieves and the false accusers. If we don’t repent all of us going to suffer for unrighteousness. In addition, the Governments want to control and all they do is setting up boundaries and think JAIL IS THE ANSWER. ITS NOT! CHRIST IS THE ANSWER.
He is one madman
I cant trust no soul with that last name Wheatley, all ayo got something wrong with yall
This current accidental and current Premier of these VI,has now given probable evidence that he in this ting with the Cartel dem..drug cartel and other s..,No na how could or would a sane leader of an economical failing Lil rock such as these VI would make such statements documented on this date kn this publcly written public article,unless he or she was given an ultimatum,a do or die ultimatum by the party he “defending”.
De man defending his life is an obvious fact. He is not too b***ht as he has proven we know but this latest is desperation in a coconut shell..Somehow, he will be paying the Piper and well deserved.
. Stay tuned.
PREMIER I THINK YOUR GOODE IS COOKED NEXT ELECTION. YOUR RATINGS IS GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE.
For sure his goose is cooked for sure. I honestly can’t see this man getting back in office again.
lol cmon man im sure we overpaid on per head cost. next time the government sponsor / subsidize another event, provide digital discount coupons with each ticket for participating vendors and business establishments from ferry/water taxi, hotels, car rentals, beauty, food etc then you can get a better estimate of ROI and economy stimulation.
The Premier needs to toss in the towel and let someone else run for the office of Premier. Being Premier is like one big joke to him. Nothing of substance, nothing. Seems like the only thing he is good at is traveling and partying.
Nonsense! We paid 2 payments. The first was $250k. $30k was spent by SP to go Jamaica with salsa to give Vybz the money in person. And a second payment was sent in December. But he will play with the words and say the rest of the money didn’t come from him and that it came from Tourist Board so technically he only gave $220 to Kartel. Stay woke my friends!
IS EXPOSING HIS HYPOCRISY / TAKE HEED , NOW WHERE’S THAT DUDE WITH THE PITBULL NAMED ” TRUMP ” THAT LOVES BALLZ BARBECUED ? WE GOT A PAIR OF BALLZ FOR HIM TO FEAST ON
Compare the Infstructure of Canada with the BVI
Compare the water system of Canada with the BVI
Compare the government buildings of Canada with tge BVI
Compare the surroundings the beauty of Canada with the BVI
Compare the hospital service with that of Canada What a foolish and ignorant, foolish , stupid comparisin
You meed to rethink what pops out of your mouth
There is no way Tortola can tolerate Wheatley being Premier again. He must go he is baddddd for Tortola.
Who voted for this mo**n? You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Not being able to vote for who becomes the Premier should be a human rights violation. Absolute madness.
Every Wheatley I know is a m**moo wa only sound smart to a duck, keep them kinda people out of power pleaseeee
Master WEATIE, Is saying )> this is yo boi hollering out at ya’al ~ flexing off mah skillz / vybes ain’t got nuTtin on yourz truly, am yo Master weatie / am in control , just look & learn and watch me do mah TiNg / fo mind the few dollars there’s more where that came from, so leh me hear yah HoLLeR
Really..shaking my head….when will the BVI people get rid of the nonsense!
So many people are like ostriches with their heads in the sand thinking once a VIP always a VIP that it can very well be much of the same next election. What a travesty. But I will tell you what, Hon. Premier knows there is a huge percentage of people who will not use their common sense when voting and will vote for him because his name lines up with the lady with the torch so he says whatever he wants and does whatever he wants. So we have to pray. Pray hard because four more years of this and we will not find our way back. My grandmother always told me if you are going to talk nonsense it is better to keep your mouth shut.
The locals worship drug dealer and pimps..sick.