BVI News

Minister moves to fix woeful JVD Primary issues following protest

Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley.

Education Minister and Deputy Premier, Dr Natalio Wheatley moved quickly to remedy a rapidly escalating situation of frustration yesterday, September 15 at the Jost Van Dyke (JVD) Primary School.

Parents, teachers, and students at the school were headed firmly towards protest action after it was reported that the school campus presented various hazardous conditions that endangered the well-being of its students.

According to Second District Representative, Melvin Turnbull, the school reportedly had a number of exposed electrical wires and circuits among other issues such as mould and lack of electricity in certain classrooms.

“Following the information shared on issues in the school last night, I immediately mobilized the team in education to address the situation. [Yesterday], purchase orders were raised and material was bought to prepare for work [today],” the minister told parents of the school last evening.

Dr Wheatley said he visited the school along with the Premier, his assistant secretary and a maintenance supervisor and were shown the problem areas by the principal.

The minister confirmed that the problems at the school were indeed related to electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and mould.

Dr Wheatley noted that today, an electrician, plumber, A/C technician, and mould specialist are all expected to visit the school.

Parent expresses gratitude, calls off protest action

Meanwhile, at least one member of the Jost Van Dyke community expressed gratitude at the minister’s promise of the urgently needed fixes.

Describing a meeting with the Premier and Dr Wheatley last evening as very productive, the resident said some short and long term measures will be taken to rectify the present situation with school.

The reisdent further said a decision was made to call off all protest action in good faith.

“There’s always strength in numbers. Let’s continue fight the good fight, it is for a better community,” the parent stated.

School temporarily closed to facilitate repairs

Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley announced that the school will be closed today and Friday and will reopen on Monday after the repairs have been addressed.

“We also formulated a proposal to improve conditions for the existing school until a new school building is constructed. We will bring this to the community for discussion shortly,” Dr Wheatley stated.

He added: “I apologise for the present challenges, but we will certainly rectify them. We will always achieve more working together. God bless you all as we look towards a better Jost Van Dyke and a better BVI.”

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47 Comments

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  1. Straight shooter says:

    Dr. Wheatley, you were better as an activist. Every single person have their role in life. Some are better at fighting for a cause than actually moving it along. You have shown not be good at moving it along. The former Minister was much better at handling education. I don’t get involved in politics. I speak the facts as I see them. Education has declined in a big way since the change of government and many of the things being done now were already in train with the previous government. You cannot blame anyone or anything but yourself for the state of JVD school. While the plans were underway for the new school some maintenance works needed to be done on the existing school. You have been in government for almost three years now. These problems are now yours.

    Like 49
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    • Agree says:

      I agree with straight shooter. Still do not understand why one man should have so many portfolios just to be useless in them all. For the sake of the country, it is not too late to give DeCastro the education portfolio. I tired of hearing this man going on about his grandfather this and that. What do you say about you? Take your head out of the clouds for a moment and get back to reality.

      Like 19
      Dislike 2
    • Guess what? says:

      Now We know that these whole noise is all about loosing an election and battling to get back to power. You would have no community lead if you destroy this one to get back to power at all cost.

  2. Resident says:

    If the school was damaged in Irma. Wasnt Mitch the representative then. This is 4 years in. why wasnt something done before. This is not excusing the present govt because no school should be in this state. The govt representative parents and principal should have demanded something be done before now or close the school since about 3 years ago. What I saw in that video was ridiculous. Happy now that something will be done but it didnt have to take a threat of a protest. We need a govt that is proactive and take education a lot more seriously.

    Like 19
    Dislike 10
    • Confusion maker says:

      He was busy creating confusion in the NDP so he didn’t study it. Busy causing mischief. Mitch is nothing but an op***tunistic confusion maker. Wherever he goes confusion is sure to follow.

      Like 8
      Dislike 7
    • He been begging says:

      He was not a minister in none of the governments and had to beg on numerous occasions to no avail.

      Like 6
      Dislike 4
  3. Send help says:

    Dr. Wheatley is the Minister of Disaster. What a waste of a vote.

    Like 20
    Dislike 3
  4. heckler says:

    Here we go again…VIP again…After the fact

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  5. And you know what? says:

    I think the parents give in to easy. There is no way from looking at the damage at that school that all the problems can be fixed by Monday. They would have been better off bringing in some new trailers and setting up classrooms until the school was properly fixed.The whole school need to be gutted and demolished. Putting a bandage and crazy glue is not the solution.

    Like 21
    Dislike 1
    • @you know what says:

      That’s BVI for you, that’s why the VIP will never give a f**k. That’s why I don’t feel sorry for any of them. They do NOT care about the kids, all they care about is politics and these bootleg leaders take full advantage. Everything is about the spotlight, nothing genuine or substantive.

      Like 10
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  6. well sah says:

    This dude had know everything before he got into power

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  7. Unfit for the job says:

    Reading this article tells me that the Minister does not know what is going on in his ministry and he lacks management skills. No one should have to tell a minister to have schools checked before they are open. This further illustrates that there is no plan for anything. The school in his own district had be closed without his knowledge and all the furniture thrown out. A blind man can see that he is not fit for this job. Go back to playing Noel Lloyd. You were better at that.

    Like 30
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  8. consultancy says:

    The money being paid to the former ndp’s like c****e, d***o, r***ie and *j could well take care of all the school woes

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  9. Lame lame lame says:

    Look what it took for these clowns to mobilize after several years of doing nothing! Dereliction by dilapidation. Will wait and see the quality of the works/repairs when it’s done and I visit the school. No mention of backup power (generator) also. What’s the status on the relocating and building of a new school for future generations.

    Like 9
    Dislike 2
    • Dem clowns says:

      Dem clowns were busy harassing the previous AG about firing board members in order to get their cronies in place for only God knows what their wicked intentions. Wicked and bad minded crooks that trying to look innocent in public!

      Like 7
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  10. SEE? says:

    IN ORDER TO GET ACTION AND THINGS DONE YOU GOTTA TAKE IT TO THE STREETS. THE FACEBOOK VIDEO AND PICTURES WENT VIRAL. I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN THE UNITED STATES HITTING ME UP ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW.

    Like 10
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  11. Blah Blah says:

    This is why nobody of substance will come forward to represent this Territory. We have a lot of talk but ZERO ACTION! Stop the protest for what? The kids treated like F**KING DOGS and because he showed up at the last minute with promises you halt the protest? The BVI deserves EVERY F**KING THING IT IS GETTING, EVERYTHING!!!!!!

    Like 14
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    • @Blah Blah says:

      I agree with your comment 2000%. What the F**k they halt the protest FOR? THE KIDS IS BEING TREATED LIKE PIGS IN A F***ING SLOP PEN. THAT SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE A DAMN SHANTY TOWN. I CANNOT BELIVE THE PARENTS SETTLED FOR THE BS. THAT SCHOOL IS WAITING FOR A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN SEEING THE DEPLORABLE CONDITION IT IS IN. NO PATCHING UP IS GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

      Like 9
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  12. Hmm says:

    School reopens last week no one was protesting until someone put some pictures on Facebook then you hear now ppl protesting. If this was a problem why didn’t the relevent persons in charge of that school inform the higher authority? Why did they allow this problem to escalate like this. The minister should just fire those in charged.

    Like 5
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  13. Look here says:

    Everyone ready to blame Min. N.Wheatley if he didn’t know how can he send help? Why not blame the district 2 representative too. If this was a known problem district two rep. would have known about it too and he would not have kept quiet about it.

    Like 6
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    • Cato says:

      The district rep did not keep quiet about it, but he cannot do a thing but complain because he is on the opposition and they want him to look bad.

      Like 6
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      • Really says:

        How come this was not made public. If he had known about it we would have already hear about it in some news already especially this because this is priority. He would not have stayed quiet.

      • Hmm says:

        This is our children future and if i was the opposition and i so want better for my district i would have sit infront that school door barring anyone from entering until everything is fixed properly.

    • Invalid Excuse says:

      ALL of the elected officials have been to each of the sister islands since they have been in office. What have they been going for drinks and pictures?

  14. He grandfather says:

    That minister always talking about he grandfather at every possible event. He grandfather would be ashamed today to see the state. Shame shame shame. You care not a cent for education. You only care for photo ops and trips to the olympics on MY TAX PAYING DOLLARS! Is no wonder you behave that way, look at your leader. Putting your children in ranks in schools that they did not work for and denying other children their rightful place just like your premier picking and choosing who should be on board. You’re fake…BYE!

    Like 6
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  15. Caul says:

    Thank you! Not Gyetttt to it man, Get the works going! Don’t play with them JVD

  16. smh says:

    Look how we got to curse and carry on and put people on blast on social media to get anything do… all these man want to do is point finger at NDP… you in power now be the difference… Anyhow thanks for now going and fix the school.

    Like 2
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  17. LIX says:

    We can say what we want but in 2yrs, Elections were in 2019 & this is 2021, this dude has shown that he cares and he mobilizes. He does it after protests sometimes b/c they choose to protest instead of communicate, & the rep for their district is complaining about things from 4yrs ago when he himself was in power. They seem to have targeted Sowande as the weak link. I think they are jealous he is a minister when they weren’t. But he cares & as an activist has always cared. He has to improve though but all rookies in every job have to improve, from Jordan to Obama. The man is working, and the VIP are working for education. Penn wants to be premier and that is what he is working on, Mitch wants a ministry and that is what he is working on. Instead of offering solutions they accuse like devils and do nothing else. But out of the young guns Rymer, Sharie & Sowande have my respect. Penn & Turnbull are losing my respect.

    Like 5
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  18. Axe says:

    It have one female just targeting Mr. Wheatley. Look like she obsess over him. The rep of that district shoyld have make sure the school was in order before reopening. This clearly show dist. Rep not doibg their jobs properly. If JVD ppl complain about the school and did not get help the should have also complain to their dist. Rep.

    Like 7
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  19. :) says:

    The problem started and should have been fixed by Mitch, Myron and the NDP while they were in office but Sowande also had enough time to fix the problem and do what his predecessors failed to do. One of the main focus for the new government should have been rebuilding or fixing all schools immediately.

    Like 5
    Dislike 6
    • @:) says:

      Maintenance of schools or any property is an ongoing thing. These schools should have been inspected and remedial works done prior to school opening. The government failed to do that. Stop trying to justify incompetence. If it’s your government then you should encourage them to do better. Casting blame where it doesn’t belong is not good. It has been three years since this government has been in office. Can’t blame anyone else.

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
  20. @LIX says:

    You probably got a lick in your f**king head if you believe a word of what you typed! Tourism is down the tube, Sharie? The roads are STINK, Kye? Education is the WORST IN HISTORY, Natalio/Sowande/MaleDancia?

    Like 7
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  21. Rediculous says:

    It should not have taken a protest for you to act. Our children were doing online schooling for most of the lock down last year and the earlier part of this year plus they had 2 summer breaks plus a Christmas break. Why weren’t the schools looked into during this time? It is just ridiculous.

  22. Agreed says:

    If its is one thing. Myron was better at handling education. Dont think the current minister will get my vote again.

    Like 14
    Dislike 4
    • @agreed says:

      I agree with this statement. It is the gospel truth. Myron was wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better.

      Like 4
      Dislike 1
    • Hmm says:

      Umm that same school was there when Myron was in office and myron was in office when Irma came?

      Like 2
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      • @hmmm says:

        What is your point really? Do you all understand what a hurricane category 5 was or we need another one to remind us. The schools were fixed back as best possible to get kids back into learning. The VIP has been in government for the last three years. Over that time they couldn’t tile the school. They couldn’t buy some toilets, they couldn’t fix some electrical outlets and do some painting and patch the roofs? Stop encouraging nonsense. These are people are failures.

    • Million dollar wall says:

      Seriously? Y’all have super short memory. Myron spent a million dollars on a wall that was easily destroyed by Irma. Probably the first thing that went at the high school. He wasn’t that great.

      • @Million says:

        Myron also had a responsibility to fix and repair schools and wasted a lot of money uselessly. Somehow the people of the BVI don’t remember anything because Seems to me he dropped the ball on many schools. At any rate, NDP, VIP, it really doesn’t matter. They are all cut from the same cloth and are a bunch of useless politricksians.

  23. Truth says:

    Like him or not, Myron was a FAR BETTER Education Minister and leader overall and would’ve done a much better job if he was given a chance to continue. Sowande is a complete waste of time!

    Like 8
    Dislike 2
  24. Politics and politricks says:

    Stop the finger pointing and fix the school(s). Residents who are in the middle are tired of the blaming each other routine every single time. See a problem, find a way to fix it and move on. We needs leadership on both sides. My 2 copper cent.

  25. Really?? says:

    What is really going on? This is embarrassing!Is this current Government this incompetent? How could you as a Minister of Education not go to every school through out the school year and assess the work that needs to be done..then as school close you jump on the job!If you can’t do it..delegate! no need to point fingers everything in Education dept start and stop with you! You were elected to do the job..DO IT! Or get out the way! This is sad!

  26. What a mess says:

    This is a very small Island. The minister should make it his responsibility to visit each school once every term to get update on the school. No they do not want the responsibility. They just want to sit in office and and look pretty.

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