Premier to critics: If other countries are so better, why not leave BVI?
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley suggested that critics of the BVI economy should return to living elsewhere in the Caribbean and not flock to the BVI’s shores.
During the budget debate wrap-up in the House of Assembly yesterday, Dr Wheatley pushed back against what he described as a “dark and gloomy” portrayal of the territory, asserting that the Virgin Islands remains one of the best places to live and work.
He argued that some lawmakers painted an excessively bleak picture of the Virgin Islands during the budget debate. But, Dr Wheatley said such negativity could harm the territory’s reputation internationally. Challenging critics further, he questioned their loyalty, suggesting that those dissatisfied might prefer neighbouring Caribbean islands like St Vincent or Antigua.
“It actually brings me great pain when persons are so unkind to the Virgin Islands in terms of how they speak about it,” the Premier said. “They make it seem like it’s the worst place on the planet.”
He continued: “They have all this praise for all the other islands in the Eastern Caribbean and sometimes I ask myself, ‘Why you just don’t move? Why you just don’t go down by Ralph Gonsalves…? Why you don’t go by Gaston Brown?.. wherever else you think is so much better than the Virgin Islands?’”
BVI is the best on the planet for me
Dr Wheatley insisted that he has nothing against those countries but argued, “I guarantee you we have more of their nationals here than we have Virgin Islanders there”.
“They’re my brothers and my sisters,” he added. “But nobody’s gonna tell them that any island anywhere else or any place anywhere else is better than the Virgin Islands. For me, the Virgin Islands is the best place on the planet.”
The Premier highlighted the territory’s attractiveness to high-net-worth individuals and diverse nationalities. “We continue to have persons – and we’re talking about some of the wealthiest and most successful persons in the world – who want to choose to live here,” he stated.
Premier Wheatley rejected claims of economic mismanagement against his government, pointing to positive indicators such as workforce growth and the territory’s double-A credit rating from CARICRIS.
“Why are we going about telling the world that our economy is in the dumps? Why are we spreading that message? Why are we painting that picture of the Virgin Islands when all the facts say the opposite?” he questioned.
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Is our dear leader losing his cards??????
I think our dear leader is paranoid/going paranoid.
Does this man hear himself spout the nonsense that he does?
Many do, especially our progeny.
Delusional to think that critics are “flocking” here. Instead, consider the merits of criticism received and take appropriate responsive action instead of being dismissive as a result of taking things personally. Fact is he chose to take on a difficult role without appearing to have either much knowledge and experience in governing a Territory fraught with decades of cronyism and corruption that have allowed those in the right places to live quite comfortably. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Because they can come here and do whatever they please and get away with………
Same old record playing over and over again. ‘Well, if you don’t like it, leave.’ Like a teenager at a house party.
Someone get this fool some medicine and some sense.
This is the only Caribbean County that have the American dollar.Cut off the American dollar from the BVI AND SEE HOW FAST THEY WILL LEAVE.
If only having the American Dollar makes an economy go, why are some states and cities in the United States so poor? Also, there are other countries in the world that are striving even better than the US that don’t carry the currency.
The American Dollar is a plus, and it shows the great leadership of our leaders, like Leslie Malone, who led the delegation—leadership that other places lacked for a long time.
The truth is that the BVI economy is built around its people and we demand a piece of the pie. Other countries in the region like politicians that make a lot of noise and do nothing for the personal financial development for its people. That is what makes the BVI different.
@Because….you are talking pure bull nonsense. Heard that talk since 1970.
A good question. These people have no love for the BVI. Do we have problems? Of course we do! Where doesn’t?
The Premier is absolutely correct. If the BVI is so bad, so backward why are you all here??? LEAVE. Go back to your homeland or wherever else is so much better.
Reply are you semi-retarded?…Money is the honey that attract the Bees to Nature’s Little Secret. What else could make them stay here?
Well take the honey and hush yo ms
You sound so foolish, why don’t you just pull up your socks and do better by the people who elected you?
You never should have been Premier…..end of story
jesus take the wheel
Instead of improving the country and challenging those remarks with results your answer is “if you don’t like it leave”
If you don’t like our constant drug running leave
If you don’t like our high bank interest killing out our low income homes leave
If you don’t like dropping in pot holes and paying for new expensive tires and suspension leaves
If you don’t like our failing infrastructure with mold and sewage on the streets leave.
If you don’t like that our supermarkets keep increasing their prices every other week then leave
So after they leave and only locals left to go through these problems then what?
Face these issues and fix them don’t tell people to leave .
Yes other countries looking more decent than us when it comes to certain aspects that’s why it hurts our hearts to see them doing well enough with no us dollar or no big yearly budget like us but we here looking like a homeless 3rd world country. It is sickening dude.
You should try to make our country look and feel the best out of all the countries instead you here saying just leave us in our filth cuz we like it.
You fly off to better countries with better airports better roads. Constant running water. No sewage in the streets. No 12year old gun slinger’s. No “business men” being gun downed. No 50 boards raping the tax money, no high bank interest, better facilities, cleaner facilities, more advanced technology, etc
You should strive to make the bvi look like and behave like their budget reflection instead we look like we in Afghanistan or getting there strpzzz
I am a local
I a born and grow up here
And I am tired of this backwards nonsense.
I love my home I just wished the politicians would love it as much as I do and invest in it. Improve it. Not just leave it as it is!
I don’t care for the Premier but this is one time I agree with him.
So wait, the VIP Government really think that driving from Beef Island to Soper’s Hole right now that Tortola is in a good place? The main island and business hub of the BVI? If you go to Jost Van Dyke right now, as you get off the dock it’s in ruins, YEARS! VG is the closest thing to what the place should look like but it also has lots of work to do. Businesses are struggling, old cars and garages are everywhere, in every neighbourhood, bushes have covered most roads, the roads are not driveable anywhere, haphazard works ongoing all over at the same time with no master plan. Their budget has the government making the same amount in revenue as they expect to spend, government departments are in chaos, everything here takes weeks and months when it should take hours. The Premier is clearly out of his league and needs to leave his feelings at home. This is big boy business and if you cannot handle it, get the f**k off the stage. This is shameful to watch.
we have had way better and this is why we cry out. in other caribbean nations political leaders step down so please step down, right now we would trust julian fraser with our territory.
the valid criticism are from residents, so rather than fix issues concerning them you’re suggesting they immigrate to another country to establish residency? ok clown.
We don’t want to leave our country, we want better leadership, so that means you are the one that has to LEAVE!
People are leaving Hon. Oblivious Premier. Hence why a census was conducted. People aren’t leaving just for better opportunity for themselves & children, people are leaving because our best days are behind us.
“Men in dungarees built this country, while men in suits destroyed it.”
ALL OF YOU BLOGGING . WATCH THE MOVIE “BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY”.
I’ve actually seen it twice. I’m not going to be a spoiler and reveal what the movie is about if you haven’t seen it.
Because most of your critics are from here born here and think they have a right to have a nation that is functional. The answer cannot be to have all V Islanders leave. That stupid negativity only works with your racist agenda to non VIslanders.
This is why the students who study abroad refuse to come back, because you telling them to leave.
When you visit Caribbean Hotels awards you see progress not lunacy leaders like what we have. All the awards not a reckon of BVI what a shame And you here spewing venom. Damn shame for a leader
I actually agree with the Concert Premier on this. But the fact that he referred to other destinations by the name of their Prime Ministers, tells me that he thinks that he is the VI! That is a huge problem! nobody going by Natalio Wheatley…they are coming to the Virgin Islands sir! Nobody knows who you are…you don’t even know who you are with multiple names.
Certan types of people, they can come here and do whatever they please and get away with even the worst of crimes. In fact, much is hidden but will come to ilght one day.
For example, local Black people are the only ones ever harrased, stopped, searched, invaded, locked up and prosecuted for plant like matter, (how backward in the 21st), while history and human consumption of weed, coke and crack, (solid coke) is not just a few visible local problem of users.
In fact, in the US, EU and UK alike, the greates consumers of those niceys are non Black people. And that is rue for right here in Tola.
Who supplies the white population? certainly not the Black one. Who supplies the small outies with all white populations? Oh, they don’t usse, drink and drug. Ther the Holy white people. What hypocrisy, usually practiced and corrupted by our own people.
Sooo why don’t YOU leave ? We’d all be better off
They come because in your unnatural quest to self destruct and remain and wallow in your comfort zone of victim-fest you scrape the bottom of the barrels to perpetuate victim role supposedly imposed by the ytman centuries ago.
No effort to do success;
ST BARTS…0 CRIME 0 POVERTY
MONACO 0 CRIME. 0 POVERTY
MONACO. 0 CRIME. 0 POVERTY
MONACO. 0 CRIME. 0poverty
if victim and the ytman
Despite our desperate political realities, i am just realizing how wonderful and bountiful Tortola, and the entire BVI are.
That is why she and her people are getting “put down” daily.
This called jealousy.
Yes, we have some ocean deep inerpersonal problems.
We msut fix them.
So if I visit Antigua and St. Kitts in the coming weeks and return saying “BOY THE ROADS IN THESE ISLANDS ARE SPOTLESSS, THE NIGHTLIFE IS STELLAR, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS GREAT, THE WELCOME AT THEIR PORTS ARE SO WARM, BVI COULD LEARN FROM THIS!”..Does this mean I should move down island? Really? This man is that petty? What people are saying is that the BVI WASSSSSS considered one of the best but the other islands have passed it by leaps and bounds and this is not emotion or opinion, it’s a FACT! Look at the place. It’s nasty, it stink, it’s horrible!
You have to learn to take criticism. A leader must not get personal. That is very petty of you
Grow Up
Did you choose to marry a BVIslander?
Does that mean the BVI females are not good?
You are a very simple man . Not fit for leadership
Who can afford to run will run; but what about those who can’t…
I don’t think people want to leave, I think they want you to make improvements and change which is why they voted you in …. it’s your job and responsibility
Say Less Big Dawg!
Mr. Premier. Humble yourself and do what is right. Just think about this, you are in process of building a home some say two. Take a drive and have a good look at the bunker style home your ex boss was building when he thought he was the king of Tortola like you now seems to think you are.