We are like parasites now — Rymer
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has criticised the BVI’s reliance on neighbouring islands for airlift access, describing the behaviour as parasitic.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Rymer underscored the urgency of investing in the territory’s tourism infrastructure, especially as other Caribbean nations expand their airports and services.
“We are seeming to be like parasites now,” Rymer stated. He noted that islands like St Thomas, St Martin, and Anguilla are improving their tourist infrastructure.
“Everybody is expanding, extending their runways, and we sit down… saying, ‘They [BVI tourists] can come through, they can in-transit in those places,’” he noted while suggesting that the BVI’s reliance on other countries for air access hinders the territory’s ability to attract direct visitors.
Rymer highlighted the critical role of tourism in the BVI’s economy, alongside financial services. He pointed out that the tourism industry has grown since the 1960s, with developments like Little Dix and The Moorings marking the start of land-based and sea-based tourism. Today, tourism continues to shape the local economy, with businesses like villas, car rentals, and fishing ventures thriving because of this sector.
However, the Minister expressed frustration with the limited capacity of the BVI’s airports, particularly the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport. At 4,600 feet, the airport’s runway is significantly shorter than those in other nearby islands, which hampers larger aircraft from landing safely, especially during bad weather. He described how flights are sometimes forced to return to Miami or San Juan due to the runway’s limitations. “That is motivation or incentive for us to extend our runway,” Rymer declared.
Rymer also mentioned the increase in flights to the BVI, including American Airlines adding additional routes due to high demand and Caribbean Airlines expected to enter the market next month.
This growing demand, he argued, makes it even more crucial to invest in airport expansion to allow for direct flights to the territory.
“We need to invest in our infrastructure,” Rymer argued. He assured the House that the government is moving forward with plans for a business case for airport expansion approved by Cabinet, with further stages to follow soon.
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You’ll still be parasites as flights can only come in from maybe 3 US cities. Not from Europe, Africa, South America. It is a stupid plan wanted only so friends and cronies can suck lots of corrupt dollars out of it. VI benefit will be net zero.
But Kye be realistic. It’s not that hard to get here and there are so many other problems to fix. Ya’ll just dying to start a big project because you want to th**f the money. Be a good politician and fix the problems at hand.
One of the overlooked opportunities is the economic benefit we’re ceding to neighboring islands—the landing fees, passenger fees, fuel fees, transit expenses, and additional travel costs that could be spent here. In an era dominated by efficiency and convenience, particularly for visitors from the United States who are accustomed to things moving swiftly, the more time spent in transit only adds to their costs and frustrations. Time not wasted in transit is time spent at their destination—enjoying and, more importantly, spending money here. It is an elementary equation, yet one we continue to disregard.
Ye. It is a stupid plan. Unless you live in one of those 3 cities you still have to transit to one of those cities. The landing fees, passenger fees, fuel fees, transit expenses, and additional travel costs will be spent their. When people arrive in VI by ferry or plane from another country be it Antigua, St Martin or the US then they will pay the landing fees, passenger fees, fuel fees, transit expenses, and additional travel costs here.
It really makes no difference if you fly from Houston to Orlando to VI, or Houston to St Thomas to VI, or Chicago to Puerto Rico to VI. You still taking 2 flights. The whole thing is a nonsense just needed so a select few can th—f the money. Currenly if you don’t live in Miami you are flying to Miami from somewhere else. No difference to flying first to PR or St Thomas to here. still 2 flights. A stupid plan with no gain for honest VIslanders.
Stated while St. Thomas embarks on a $250 million airport upgrade. we seem to be content with allowing our neighboring island to further cement its dominance in the tourism market. This isn’t a zero-sum game. The tourist market is broad and diverse, accommodating upscale visitors, mid-tier travelers, and day-trippers alike. We ought to recognize that by failing to modernize our own infrastructure and cater to these varying markets, we are ceding valuable opportunities that could otherwise benefit our economy. There’s room for all, but only for those willing to compete.
You are in Government-convince your cabinet that the expansion is needed- source the required funding and let’s do it.
Stop complaining!
@Not a stupid Plan Most of the people who comes to the BVI every year love the BVI because we are overcrowded like the other Islands they don’t mind the transit part because if the BVI had a bigger airport we will be overcrowded just like those other islands, besides you can get to the BVI without been in transit. Besides fix the place before looking at bringing in more tourists we don’t even have a resort on Tortola, people who are going to the outer islands all of them are in transit so stop taking crap. Get the century fixed then talk about a bigger airport, but as we all know all this government dose is talk party and put the cart before the horse.
and they still want to use outhouses have no electricity or internet and get around by donkey to have a real authentic expereince .
Can we please stop beating this dead horse?! Everyone knows that the airport needs to be expanded and everyone knows that it’s not going to happen anytime soon. If there’s no money to fix the little things how can you afford to start this big project ? Stop wasting time on the subject and get busy fixing the problems we already have!
Jungle thinking they not focus at all.
Thank you. Finally some common sense. Have our own everything is necessary & not about political independence. It is a matter of physical survival. Just think if we didnt have our own hospital, airport. Two things done right but we lack many more.
Government should have its own helicopter & matter of fact own private jet with all the money they wasted on nonsense. The parties this year alone could have bought a medical helicopter.
Hon. Rhymer is right. We need to grow the f**k up and leave politics out of everything. We cannot simply sit down talking about relying on other jurisdictions for our economic security. It is time that we develop our ports and get a proper sustainable, long-term plan in place to grow our tourism product to where it needs to be. We NEEED an expanded airport and we NEED better port facilities at Road Town and West End. There will always be connecting flights to/from STT, SXM etc. but we need to upgrade our facilities and NOW! The BVI is 20 years behind but it’s stil not too late, let us stop the senseless childishness and develop the place.
@Well… Have you been to the big international airport on St. Barths? No, and you won’t be going there. The future is not in a big Sandals-type (lower end) place, but in small, exclusive hideaway resorts.
The comparison to St. Barths is not entirely appropriate. St. Barths, with a population of just 9,800 people on 9.7 square miles, and a GDP of approximately $280 million, thrives on a highly exclusive, high-end tourism model. The British Virgin Islands (BVI), by contrast, is much larger, with several islands and a greater population, making it difficult to sustain solely on high-end clientele.
However, it is possible to adopt a similar model on a smaller scale within the BVI, by designating one island as a luxury destination akin to St. Barths. But this raises an important question: would the people of the BVI, who are accustomed to more open access to their territory, embrace such exclusivity? The people of St. Barths are fully committed to privacy and exclusivity, understanding its value to their economy. In contrast, many BVIslanders might find it uncomfortable to restrict access to certain parts of their own territory, potentially missing the larger economic benefits of doing so.
A more fitting comparison might be St. Martin, which accommodates both high-end tourists and more accessible options without alienating locals. Not only is St. Martin thriving, but many visitors to St. Barths also take day trips to St. Martin, contributing to its economy. This blended model might serve the BVI better, offering a balance between exclusivity and broader access.
it’s either a diversion tatic / or as mr ALOOF said , the COI is causing RETARDATION , so it could be a ” LIL ” touch of the side effects flexing off themselves on he
I swear these people are clueless! This industry is not a build it and they will come industry. You want to build an extended runway to Keep up with the Joneses? For pride but not financial sense? Where are the studies to site the financial efficacy of this $300 million dollar project? Where is the Strategic Tourism Plan to identify if and when this expansion is actually needed? How about enhancing our internal infrastructure, services at the airport, getting better customs and immigration reps, developing Anegada and VG airports, enhancing our marine routes, getting rid of the ridiculous fees and processes for charter yachts and day trippers, etc?
Only thing you all can come up with is airport expansion? Ohhhhh yeah! You all want to find a way to engage a large sum of cash so you all can get your kick backs and feed your political cronies with contracts like in the past. You just want to get your hands on some money! Not that the expansion is needed!
No to airport extension.
The relationship between the USVI and the BVI should be similar to the relationship between St. Martin and St. Barts but it’s not because:
1)Tortola is a dump. VG, JVD and Anegada are presentable to visitors but Tortola is repulsive.
2)Tortola and VG’s airports are perfect now for upmarket visitors, small and attractive. There is no need to enlarge the Beef Island airport.
3)The ferry system between the USVI and the BVI is poorly organized, expensive and repels visitors.
4)BVI Customs and Immigration policies deter overnight visitors by invading their privacy for useless information.
Tortola needs to be the to VG and Anegada what St Marteen is to St Baths. Tortola needs that direct access from US and Europe.