Virgin Islands too small for CARICOM free movement — Premier
The Virgin Islands will not adopt full free movement of people under CARICOM’s arrangements due to its small population, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has said.
Dr Wheatley confirmed that while the BVI remains an associate member of the Caribbean Community, its demographic and economic realities do not support such a move.
“We wouldn’t implement full movement of people,” Dr Wheatley stated. “Not all entities in CARICOM signed on to full free movement. For instance, the Bahamas is not a part of that. There are perhaps some other nations who are not a part of that. I don’t think St Kitts and Nevis is a part of that.”
Several CARICOM member states, including Barbados, Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica, are expected to implement full free movement of nationals by October 1, 2025. But Dr Wheatley explained that the Virgin Islands’ unique circumstances require a different approach.
“We have a small population. We already have, I would say, quite a number of nationalities who have come from other places to contribute to the building of the Virgin Islands,” he argued.
CARICOM’s free movement of people policy is intended to promote greater regional integration and economic cooperation. However, the BVI’s status as an associate member rather than a full member means it is not automatically bound by such decisions. Dr Wheatley added that the structure of the BVI’s economy differs from larger CARICOM jurisdictions.
“I think we are in a different situation than most of the other bigger territories and the nature of their particular economies. So we wouldn’t be signing on to that,” he asserted.
The BVI has actively participated in CARICOM Heads of Government meetings and continues to advocate for its inclusion in regional decision-making processes, particularly on issues such as climate change, security cooperation, and trade.
“We have a historic obligation to be able to unify ourselves with our brothers and sisters across the region because we have common challenges and our destiny is really tied together,” Dr Wheatley stated. Despite not joining the free movement scheme, Premier Wheatley said the BVI remains committed to building strong regional ties.
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Well, Thank You Sir!!
Best, and most insightful decision
You have made so far.
I introduce the Mobaci Mosel and in good we will be all
set…Zero Poverty,Zero Crime is the goal!!!
.
Introduce the MONACO Model.
Zero Crime. Zero poverty,
These islands are also too small for many of the things that a segment of the population hankers after: mass tourism, a larger airport and a westernised lifestyle. And you can add independence to the list.
Sixty years ago, Virgin Island poet Sheila Hyndman (1958-1991) prophesied the future of her beloved homeland.
My book “Sheila Hyndman Remembered” contains a selection of her poems. https://www.studiopublications.org/product-page/sheila-hyndman-remembered
Did she really prophesied that at age 7. Wow
Seems like a lame excuse when the majority of employees in the private sector are from other countries. Xenophobic politicians keep trying to protect something that does not exist any more.
Excellent observation! The too small reason makes absolutely no sense…..
Dont hate the BVI for their decision. Its the best decision he made in a long llong time.
Then we should know that the bvi is too small for independence as well
The amount of illegal people living in the BVI right now I think you already have free movement and not legally
Too small for Independence?
Yea you ignorant monkey you just like the rest of them
This is too obvious .
Did America say the BVI is too small to use their currency?
You can screen the people coming into the country and set very high standards and do background checks
Why is he so agraid
State your reasons how the smallness of the country will be affected .
We no
Longer live in a mediocre society we can think Mr Premier
The BVI has never been a burden and degenerative element to the USA or elsewhere.
Hence with open arms they welcome our money exchange in US dollars.
Any idea the amount of real-estate owned by BVIslanders in the USA and territoriesapart from their properties in these BVI? A lot more than a lilbit or none at all.
BVIslanders are assets unlike the low hanging fruits in this region that are is was and always liabilities both socially and economically. But ,you knew that! Reality in yo face.
Insularity nurtures mediocrity. The VI has been and continues to be well nurtured.
I thought, we were a continent , why some of you call the rest of the Caribbean island people!!
Well said of the premiere wise decision
May Almighty God continue to bless you Mr Wheatley and give you a good spirit of discernment.
Blessings on the BVI
It is not several Caribbean Islands. It’s only Barbados and its 2 colonies, St Vincent, Dominican along with Belize. The rest are putting their national needs above political wins.
Here we go again bashing each other instead of finding solutions for
. Food Security
Growing our indigenous population to take the top
And all jobs in the territory so we do not have to rely on outside support ( Really)
Passing down our land and property that we prefer to lay dormant for donkey years so long that families die oit without their children inherit benifits ( shocking eiii)
This is the movement we need to see happening in the BVI
My problem is that your answers Mr. Premier are not factual. You think this You think that, what are your facts?
It may not be that the BVI is too small but it is clear that the BVI has special circumstances.
For sure the BVI lacks appropriate infrastructure (Roads/Water/Telecoms/Electricity) to support mass immigration and although 70% of it’s workforce are foreigners this is a very controlled process for more than one reasons(including natural prejudice), to have that completely open will overwhelm the resources even more. It also is a source of revenue for Gov’t that they can’t afford to lose.
The likely increased demand for resources like “housing” would increase prices even more. Although that may not be immediate, as moving to be BVI without a Job will be difficult for many ppl in the other islands (just too costly).
Good decision albeit the reasoning is mostly natural prejudice and protecionism.