Premier says loan funds earmarked for airport, health and roads
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has defended the government’s handling of the $100 million loan secured to fund infrastructure and public services, saying the money is being used for critical projects including the airport, health care, roads, and a detention facility.
Responding to criticism that only $8 million of the loan had been directed towards addressing the territory’s water challenges, Dr Wheatley dismissed the claims as unfounded.
“That’s nonsense. That’s all I have to say about that,” Premier Wheatley said.
He outlined that the funds were targeted at long-term development projects across multiple sectors.
“We’re investing in the airport. We’re investing in the Health Services Authority. We’re investing in the roads. We’re investing in a detention centre, which we’re spending quite a lot of money on now at Hotel Castle Maria,” Dr Wheatley explained. He added that there are several other areas where the government has invested.
“And we’re going to deliver the projects, you know. We’ll get it done. And those projects will make us a better Virgin Islands,” he stated.
The $100 million loan, approved by the House of Assembly in 2023, was described at the time as a necessary step to finance major capital works after years of underinvestment. A portion of the loan has been allocated to road rehabilitation and improvement works, as well as upgrades to health facilities and security infrastructure.
Concerns over the allocation of funds have grown amid continued public frustration with unreliable water supply across Tortola and the sister islands. Opposition members have argued that a larger share of the loan should have been directed towards modernising water distribution and purification systems.
Dr Wheatley, however, insisted that the loan strategy addresses the wider needs of the territory, balancing critical upgrades across essential services. He emphasised that the government intends to complete the projects despite criticism.
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More redirecting of money into hands and accounts.
The same political games in full effect.
Where’s our $5 million? Who approved it? Why the secrecy?
Set of rats going down with the ship, at the people’s expense!
We do not have an airport project. We have continuously been told that it is not a done deal.
The reports are in but we have not seen them. How are we to make a decision on the airport?
Let’s get the reports out and decide if this airport should go ahead before we spend or hide away more money for it.
Especially money that should be being spent on our third world infrastructure.
We are very quickly heading towards being an Independent country with no infrastructure to speak of, a brand new big hole in the ground where the aiport used to be, that will never be finished, and another $Billion shared amongst friends and family whilst we are all forced back on ferries as we have no airport at all.
INTELLECTUAL DECIEVERS AT WORK.