PREMIER: VIP gov’t has recovered BVI from 2017 hurricanes
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley says the Virgin Islands has largely completed its recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, marking a major milestone for his administration as it pushes forward with sweeping utilities reforms under the Virgin Islands Energy & Water Corporation Bill, 2026.
Addressing the House of Assembly, Dr Wheatley said the government successfully utilised the post-Irma US$65 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank to restore critical public infrastructure damaged by the 2017 storms.
“We have a few projects left under the recovery but by and large, this administration has recovered the Virgin Islands from hurricanes Irma and Maria,” Premier Wheatley stated.
He added: “We have recovered the Virgin Islands – we fixed our schools, our clinics; we have the admin building, and that will be completed soon but we fixed most of our other government departments, etcetera. We’ve recovered the BVI,” he told legislators.
Building on that recovery, Dr Wheatley said the government has now secured a US$100 million loan — the largest in the territory’s history — to address long-standing infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in water, sewerage and roads. Without that financing, he said, the government would not have been able to sign the largest road contract ever awarded in the BVI – the rehabilitation works from Road Town Ferry Terminal to the West End Ferry Terminal.
While acknowledging continued public frustration over water shortages, sewage issues and pothole-filled roads, the Premier insisted his administration is focused on solutions rather than political optics. “Others curse the darkness,” he said. “Our strategy is lighting a candle.”
Premier Wheatley credited Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer for persistence in tackling infrastructure challenges despite funding constraints, saying the minister has demonstrated resilience, critical thinking and determination in confronting deeply rooted problems.
He insisted that the combination of hurricane recovery, major borrowing for infrastructure, and statutory reform of utilities marks a turning point for the territory. “Yes, we have a water problem. Yes, we have a sewage problem,” Dr Wheatley said. “But we’re not going to keep kicking the can down the road, we’re gonna address those challenges, so they will be done and dusted and solved.”
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More like you brought us from minus ten to zero and that’s acknowledged. You didn’t take us from disaster to triumph. Progress, yes, but nowhere near victory, not when it took nearly ten years.
Zero isn’t success, it’s the starting line. When we reach positive ten, that’s when the chest beating will be earned.
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Really?
Depends on what he means by “recovered”. Admin building is still a mess, for one.
This man is delusional.
stop talking bull waste slowman the bvi recovered itself by 2019 with its ppl and them who came to work after irma on work permit waivers for the short time. U and your VIP killed the bvi progress. u just trying to fool ppl, We just waiting to vote VIP out of government next election.
Get the man a Labrador & a white stick.
You all Aint Hear Nothing Yet!!! More SH!T to Hit The Fan as the Days and Months Roll along. He probably Think Here is Guyana But He Better Wheel and Come again.
Some people love to hear themselves talk, moreover when it’s nonsensical.
This m**m** continues with out hesitancy to insult our intelligence and our physical beings.
We live work and breatherl here daily reminders of the rot of these VI,compounded daily,we traverse the muck that has been bubbling and slithering effective with the Hurricane Irma of 2017, soon to be a decade ago.
Why is this man so??? Nobody ask him,he simply pontificating and spewing in our faces with affronts and lies.If I was family to him,I would feel derp shame. They were outstanding supporters abd builders of a BVI with dignity and character butso e how he getaway and gone in another direction .
I am convinced that this the current Premier is mentally unavailable in this the real World,at the expense of our sufferation and loss of out BVI
Seriously!!
Serious thoughts,decision and action is urgent in the removal of the current Premier from his assigned duties.
I just want a leader to speak in truths … all the time. Just be real, acknowledge the deficiencies and put forth a plan to make things happen. When that is done more than the chest beating of self praise for unfinished business is when you will have my respect … AND VOTE.
Leave the praises to the people. We will see when things are completed and we will give you your flowers. Until then, stop with the gaslighting. The world has become a “say whatever you want” and pretend it’s truth and fool yourself and the people. (not the majority of the people)
Truths only please, show some integrity …PLEASE!
I beg you.
Are we living in the same place? How many homes and buildings still look like the hurricane as last month? We still can’t get water in most communities. Roads are a hazard for everyday driving. Agriculture is practically non existent. Althea Scatliffe still not built. We are on the greylist for financial services. Hospital can’t even get the name put on it. DDM building incomplete. West end ferry terminal looks worse than it did before the hurricanes. Airports on VG and Anegada undeveloped. Prospect Reef is an eyesore. We are now storing derelict vehicles on our pristine waterfront where incoming tourists have to see. Dormitories not built at HLSCC. JVD still has no proper terminal to clear in and out of. Fishing complex? Farmer’s market? Still no tourism plan in place. Only good thing is no longer under COI which was created and caused by the VIP!
Tell us again how we are recovered please?
you telling me this is the best and brightest the VI have to offer for the distinguished title of Premier?
The BVI never recovered.
It was a dump before, it still is.
Many was left in place for a VIP Government, or any other government that would have won in 2019, to recover the BVI. We now know that you lie.
Never ever give vindictive children the handle to hold. they will throw that hot oil on you without blinking. His boss said to turn the page from a Doctor to a Doctor and wallah. Never again.
We are in the last days, misson. Jesus is coming soon. Persons can just stand up in front of others who Father God blessed with sight and hearing and talk piddle like this? Reading things like he credited Hon. Rymer for his persistence in tackling the infrastructure despite unavailable funding is laughable. You are not giving the Minister of Communications and Works the financing to do the work needed on our roads and water infrastructure. Yet you find money to party every chance you get and we are not talking about a little $100,000, you know, even though we can ill afford that for fete, but hundreds of thousands for each party. You find money to travel at every meeting called all over the world. No use is made of our wonderful technology where you are in the room at the punch of a button while sitting at your desk here at home. $10 million was spent refurbishing the Admin Complex. Come on. Best you had throw it down and start from scratch because a primary school student can see that is assinine. But, I vowed in 2026 I will not be getting upset and blogging too much, because it makes no sense. We just have to speak at the polls during the next election, no matter what you and your team rush off and give us. We don’t care. You all have failed us as a country and failed miserably. You walk around like you won a popularity contest. Oh no, being a Minister of Government and a Representative of the people takes hard work. You have to sit down together and formulate plans to get us where we need to go as a country and then follow through step by step each day. But, alas, it is too late for you all. You have had your opportunity. Not enough time left to plan and deliver on promises. The ship has sailed.
Administration building will never be fixed. Too many politicians are renting office space to the government at exorbitant rates
I guess the government paid for all the roofs that had to be rebuilt…
Irma was 8.5 years ago! The BVI needs to stop using Irma as an excuse for anything that looks bad or doesn’t work. In all honestly, the island doesn’t look that much different now to how it looked when I got here in 2019.