Serious diplomacy can’t be done online
Yet another local official has stepped forward to defend international travel and diplomacy under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration, insisting that meaningful diplomacy requires physical presence and that the BVI risks weakening its voice if officials stay home.
Special Envoy Benito Wheatley made the remarks during last week’s Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) meetings between the UK government and Overseas Territories (OTs), when he was asked to highlight the benefits of physical representation at the high-level talks, despite public backlash that some of these engagements can be done online.
Wheatley explained that in-person engagement is essential to advancing the BVI’s interests.
“The best way to conduct diplomacy is human-to-human contact,” Wheatley said. “If you’re not in the room, your voice is weaker. For us to do the work of diplomacy, you have to be in the room.”
He added that face-to-face conversations allow OT leaders to build trust, understand concerns, and negotiate from a position of unity — something he believes cannot be replicated through virtual meetings. His comments follow ongoing public criticism at home over the cost and frequency of overseas travel by the VIP government.
UK is obligated to help us
Wheatley also weighed in on the increasingly prominent push for self-determination — a theme many believe his brother, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, has championed more vigorously than any recent BVI leader.
“Self-determination is our right to choose our own political future,” the special envoy said. He emphasised that under international law, the UK has a duty to support the political, administrative, and economic development of its territories so they can eventually stand fully on their own.
“Our free political institutions, our economic development, our administrative capacity — all of these things should be supported by the UK,” he said. “There will be tensions because our system mixes colonial governance and democratic governance, but we must still work together to reach that goal.”
Wheatley stressed that while both sides have obligations, the BVI’s right to pursue its own future must be respected.
The JMC meetings wrapped last week as OT leaders and UK ministers continue discussions on governance, financing, security and constitutional affairs.
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but yet still you and your brother is flying all over the globe racking up frequent flier miles
Benito is absolutely correct, and his value to the BVI should not be underestimated. He is an informed and experienced advocate, shaped by years of engagement in Washington, D.C., and well connected on both sides of the Atlantic. His effectiveness stems in part from his temperament — he does not seek the spotlight, but someone who thrives in the demanding, often unseen work that actually moves policy forward.
That said, not every interaction requires a physical presence. In today’s world, strategic use of virtual engagement can be just as effective for many matters. And, importantly, the public’s perception cannot be dismissed. In difficult economic times, optics matter. A more deliberate prioritization of travel would go a long way toward building public confidence while preserving the essential work that must be done abroad.
Give us a break. Tying to justify flying high on our tax dollars
Yes. Be very careful because anyone can use a computer screen to commit terrorism. Be watchful and be vigilant and be on guard.