Rymer juggling 10 portfolios as Premier and Deputy travel
Communication and Works Minister Kye Rymer may be the hardest-working member of government over the next two weeks, as he steps up to manage as many as ten portfolios while both the Premier and Deputy Premier travel on official duties outside the territory.
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley is scheduled to be out of the territory from June 8 to June 20, attending a series of high-level meetings in the United States, Brazil, and the wider Caribbean.
During that time, Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Julian Fraser will also be away on official business, from June 7 to June 15.
As a result, Minister Rymer will serve as the interim leader of the territory. In addition to his two standing portfolios—Communications and Works—he will temporarily oversee the responsibilities of Premier; Minister of Finance; Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development; and Minister for Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation.
Rymer, who bears responsibility for the territory’s critical infrastructure upgrades, is already facing increasing public pressure. Residents say deteriorating roads and inconsistent water supply have now reached what some describe as humanitarian crisis levels. In response, Rymer has appealed for patience, promising that strategic steps are being taken to bring lasting improvements to the territory’s aging public assets.
Meanwhile, Premier Wheatley is again abroad on official business, even as public calls intensify for the government to reduce travel spending and redirect those funds to struggling sectors of the economy.
In a recent statement to the public, the Premier defended his travel schedule, arguing that the meetings will ultimately yield benefits for the territory.
“They allow us to learn from the experiences of our regional colleagues and adopt strategies that can drive progress here in the Virgin Islands. It is about advancing our territory and ensuring that our people remain at the centre of our development agenda,” Dr Wheatley stated.
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Meanwhile he can’t even handle the few portfolio items that he normally has. Everything under his ministry is a mess. Every project he has done has been a mess. But let’s give him more to do. The BVI is not a real place.
The BVI people must hold these frequent-flyer ministers accountable.
We require value for money. Are they bringing back anything that will help the BVI market to grow, or are these travels purely to add notches in belts?
We should be further forward than we are now, but the country is still dealing with third-world challenges.
That’s why they pay you the big bucks…or, can’t stand the heat, get put of the kitchen. Not to say this is how things should be done, but it’s been that way for a long time.
That is insane. Good luck with that. Just hope nothing major pop off in the Territory while REN and Stimpy is out of the Territory.
D3 will be silly to elect some rookie in these troubled times that the country is facing.
The people of the Virgin Islands deserve everything they are getting or not getting. These Culprits know the Majority of you all are STUPID and they are treating you as such. Stop the complaining and Ride with the Tide. You will need that Energy sooner rather than later.
If we take the territory’s highways and byways as an example, little will happen with the Hon. Mr. Rymer in charge.