Wheatley opposes cruise deal for The Baths
Vincent Wheatley at the Baths
Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley has rejected a proposed arrangement to reserve The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks for cruise passengers, declaring that the attractions must remain accessible to the public.
The National Parks Trust confirmed on August 14 that it was in advanced negotiations with an international luxury cruise operator for reserved access on nine mornings during the peak tourism season. The arrangement would prevent the general public from entering during the reserved periods.
“The solution to a funding shortfall cannot be the alienation, even for a matter of hours, of a national treasure that belongs to the people of these Islands,” Wheatley noted in a statement released on August 20.
Wheatley acknowledged the Trust’s financial difficulties and the investment made in the Greater Baths National Park, but said he could not support excluding residents and other visitors to benefit one commercial operator.
“What I cannot support is a solution that turns, even in part, on the exclusion of the very people the National Parks Trust exists to serve,” Wheatley stated.
He recalled directing the Trust in July 2021 to reverse a decision that would have closed The Baths to residents and non-cruise visitors during specified hours. At the time, the Trust planned to restrict access between 9 am and 2 pm on cruise-ship days under COVID-19 protocols. Wheatley maintained that all beaches were public and said the government had not been consulted about the decision.
Wheatley said a letter from law firm O’Neal Webster, written for a concerned resident and descendant of former Baths owner Dr Eric O’Neal, documented an understanding dating to 1954 that the property would remain available to the public. The government acquired the property in 1987.
He also pointed to a petition which had attracted more than 600 signatures towards a target of 800. Its organisers intend to present it at the Trust’s virtual meeting on August 27.
Wheatley said National Parks Trust trustees said they knew nothing about the proposed arrangement before it became public and were not consulted. He supported their suggested alternatives, including raising ordinary entrance fees, offering specialised experiences during the slower tourism season and seeking direct conservation investment from tourism operators.
The representative encouraged residents to attend the Trust’s Zoom meeting from 6.30 pm to 8 pm on August 27.
“The Baths belonged to us before the first cruise ship ever called at our shores, and they will belong to us long after, and I intend to see that they remain that way,” Wheatley stated.
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We need the names of the national parks trust members who were in advanced negotiations.
Need to check their accounts and see if they got a big wire. No chance someone in their good mind thought about this without someone trying to grease the wheel.
Nobody seems even remotely interested in asking the most basic questions: Who actually made this decision, where was it made, and why has the Minister responsible for Natural Resources not publicly addressed it? Some publications will not even publish comments that raise these simple questions.
Meanwhile, Wheatley speaks out and suddenly becomes the face of the controversy. There are even people crediting some “Sisters” with “sounding the alarm,” although at least one of them being praised actually sits on the NPT board that made the decision in the first place.
Is it any wonder, then, that so many issues come and go without anyone being held accountable? First, we often place blame where it does not belong. Second—and perhaps more troubling—we frequently seem uninterested in finding out where it actually does belong.
It is far more satisfying to embrace an anecdote, identify a convenient villain and follow the crowd than to do the less exciting work of establishing the facts. Accountability, however, requires precisely that: asking who had the authority, who participated in the decision, and who ultimately bears responsibility.
We need to find out how this got past the Minister. That’s 2 ministers back to back who didn’t know. It’s happening too often. It begs several questions that need to be answered.
Then why didn’t you hold a press conference telling the people about it and telling the park, which is under your ministry, not to even consider it or bring it to your table?
Shereen is who brought it to the public.
He is the current Minister for Health and Social Development, National Parks are not under his Ministry.
He is speaking as the Representative for the Ninth District, where The Baths is located.
This is even more troubling. He is a sitting member of the ruling party. A decision of this nature was made in his district and he was excluded? Hmm…make it make sense.
And it not troubling that Shereen sits on the Board of the NFT that made this decision and now says she is bring it to atention of the public and didnt know about it ? That gets a pass?? wow the hipocrisy is unbelieveable.
There is a difference between Board Members and Trustees. We really should educate ourselves before coming to public forums. If you took the time to read the information SFC and LW put out you’d notice they explained the roles of the Trustees and they didn’t have prior knowledge.
Remember this is the government of ‘I didn’t know’.
The is exaclty what I mean and the Administration has to be more responsive . Wheatley fell into a trap and he coundnt even see it . Go out as the Rep of the 9th and speak on it , KNOWING the the public would assume he is the Minister of Natural resources.Probably 85% think exactly like this poster and the same 85% are unaware that one of the people they are giving credit to for bringing it to the public attention SITS on the board the MADE the decision. Pay attention!!!. Administration get an F on this for not looking out for its own unless it was deliberate. Watch your back we know some people get paranoid and make rash decisions.
Thank you Mr. Wheatley for protecting the Baths for all BVIslanders. The cruise ship industry will be the death of us if we are not careful. What a shocking proposal they made to the The National Parks Trust. If we allow unfettered access by the cruise ship industry we will begin to feel like strangers in our own land. That would be a very painful state of affairs for current citizens of the BVI and future generations. It’s the only place where we feel completely free.
Is he saving it? He knew all along about the discussions and stayed silent. He is conveniently speaking now to secure his seat at the next general election. How gullible are we?
Gullible they gullible yes, you think anything of that nature he wouldn’t have been made aware of?, these ppl are wolves in sheep clothing..let anybody at their job try to do anything under a superior’s watch without their knowledge about and watch them get fired…however all these underhand decisions and minister “don’t know” yet nobody ever get fired…isn’t that fishy enough for you to know them ministers be know and acting dumb just to save face and every time we don’t stand up against that nonsense, we are choose to accept it whether you think so or not…inaction is also an action
look like you willing to call Wheatley out cause he easy but you dont have the b@lls to call out the Minister of natural resources under who purview the beaches falls. What a set of weak people.
So wait we the gullible one?? but you are not because a person who actually SITS on the board ofthe NFT that MADE this decision tell you they didnt know about it and supposedly raised the alarm , and that passes as validation . oh ok.
Last time I checked Sheree’s lost her seat. Wheatley is the one in the house supposedly representing the people and should be the one speak up early not now that it is convenient. You people are so brainwashed you can’t see past the nonsense!
No hyou the one trying hard to brainwash but the people aint biting.you lack the courage to put the blame where it belongs. You know damn well the becaeaches falls under Fraser but all you all afraid to call his name . set a coward.
I support strengthening the National Parks Trust, but not through policies that exclude the people it was created to serve. The Baths belonged to the people of the Virgin Islands before tourism was even considered an economic pillar, and it must remain accessible long into the future.
Our heritage is not for sale, and access to it should never depend on the size of one’s bank account. We must find solutions that protect our parks without putting them beyond the reach of our own people, because what we inherited from those who came before us is ours to preserve and pass on to those who come after us.
There was a locally produced documentary that students were bused to UPs to watch when it came out. You know who played Noel LLoyd in all the reenactments? Our current Premier of course.
Pay attention to who is staying silent about these things.
The Baths experience has been ruined due to the huge numbers of cruise passengers being brought to Virgin Gorda from Tortola.
Virgin Gorda is a high-end destination. Guests pay big money to stay on Virgin Gorda. They appreciate the beauty, tranquility, the warm, friendly and welcoming people, and uncrowded beaches on Virgin Gorda (except the Baths and Devils Bay on cruise ship days).
Tortola is the one courting the cruise ships. Please keep them and their passengers over on Tortola. Clean up Tortola. Let them go to Brandywine Bay as planned. Please let the sister islands alone.
Raise the current environmental fee which is charged to visitors entering the BVI from $10 to $15 per person, and charge this fee to each and every passenger on the cruise ships that come in. Currently, cruise passengers do not pay the environmental fee and they are the ones causing the problem! NPT could receive $5 to $7 of that environmental fee and still charge for entry to the Baths. This should give them enough capital to maintain all the parks.
How do you negotiate an entity that belongs to the people/government of the virgin islands without consulting them? This nonsense has to stop.
“Wheatley said National Parks Trust trustees said they knew nothing about the proposed arrangement before it became public and were not consulted.”
When people in positions of power start to believe that they know more than the people who hire them you get these actions.
Just a point of clarification as some seem not to understand. Statutory bodies are SEPARATE from Government and they have independence in their decision-making. There is a relationship with the subject Minister yes, but there ought not to be any political interference with the decision-making that occurs in statutory bodies. I think that civics is a subject that must be taught in our schools at all levels so that the populace would better understand the way that Government and various important public bodies function.
You’re telling the public that negotiations were made independently of the Minister of Labour and the District Representative?
It’s amazing that these so called politicians are clueless, when they’re supposed to be leading. This is another example of the PURE INCOMPETENCE of this government. I would say it’s gaslighting/mental manipulation, but I would be giving them too much credit.
How is this not embarrassing? They’re creating a problem and then virtue signaling when the public is made aware.
That’s how you represent Mr. Wheatley. I give props where props are due. Well done Rep D9.
THAT WAS NEATLY PUT , BUT THAT AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES , SO IT IS NOW A PART OF OUR CULTURE – (NORM) ITS CALLED ” CORRUPTION ” SO NOTHING NEW THERE /AND IT ONLY FALLS ON DEAF EARS , BECAUSE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM , THEN THE COVER IT UP BY POINTING THEIR FINGERS AT SOMEONE OR HOLLER OUT THEY WILL DO AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF HOW IT HAPPENED ( THE ASIAN BANK FIASCO IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE ) SOME ARE SPECIALISTS IN ( SELECTIVE AMNESIA )EMPLOYERS NOT PAYING THEIR (FAIR SHARE OF TAXES AFTEF DEDUCTING FROM THEIR EMPLOYEES ) GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS THAT CANNOT GET FINISHED REPAIRING . AND THE FAMILY & FRIENDS RENTAL ABUSE GOES , ON INDEFINITELY , LOOK HOW COOL THEY RAISED THEIR OWN SALARIES AND THE CIVIL SERVANTS WHO DOING THE REAL WORK ARE NOT IN THEIR THOUGHTS – THE POOR PENSIONERS ARE TREATED LIKE ( S H * T ) AND AS ELECTION IS ON THE HORIZON THEY HOLLERING OUT THEY WILL CONSIDER THE POOR PENSIONERS ( BUT SEEING IS BELIEVING / WHEN YOU GO TO *HR* AND ENQUIRE , THEY ARE LOST AS TO ANY INCREASE CONCERNING ANY PENSIONERS , SO LOOKS LIKE ITS ONLY ” SWEET TARK ” AS USUAL • CSC SAY WE ” SHEGGEDY FRIGGED ” AND HE MAY BE RIGHT / SOME AH DEM PENSIONERS MIGHT BE (RIP) BEFORE THEY GET AH DIME FROM THESE SUPER ELITE PREDATORS WE GOT HERE . SADLY
Seems Like there is More Than enough Blame to Go Around But The Reality Is: Research Must be Done To Really Find The facts instead Of Blaming Some While Praising Others. First Of All To My Knowledge, Every Board In The Virgin Islands Must Be Approved By Members Of Government Including The members Who Sit On The Boards. Regardless Of Are Members or Trustees or Whatever, I think The Mere Fact Of Having No Regard Or Respect For The People of The Virgin islands Especcially The People Of Virgin Gorda Whom The Decision Will Directly Affect, Was Reason Enough To Cause An Outrage. Love The Flaxes Or Dislike Them, One Thing For Sure When It Comes To Things Affecting VG, It Can’t Pass Them. They Are A prominent Family Of VG And They Genuinely Care About The Success And Progress Of The Island And Will Not Be Silenced By No One. A Matter Like This Should Be The Concern Of ALL Virgin Gordians Regardless Of Political Party Affiliation. Secondly, If The Representative Of The District Didn’t Know About It Until Some members Of The Community Alerted Him Of What Was Happening, Again That Shows the level Of Respect Or Disrespect Towards Him From Those Concerned. A Subject Of This magnitude of Importance Cannot be In Its Final Stage Of Negotiation Without The Knowledge And Input From The People Of Whom It Most Likely Will Affect. That Goes To Show In Reality The So-Called Sister Islands Are In Reality Merely Seen Or Treated Like Step Children Or Moreso Bastards. Lastly, Then To Top It Off A Zoom Meeting Has Been Scheduled To Explain Afre The fact? What happen To An In person Meeting With The members Of The VG Community? Is this To Avoid Having Someone To Send Another Whatsapp Message Asking For The Resignation Of Someone Else Like Was Done To Mr. Ron Potter When A Citizen Died At The Clinic Last Year? While No One Is perfect, Subjects Of This Magnitude Should And Must be Handled On A More Professional level And Those Involved Must Be Mindful That The Virgin Islands And All The Islands Wherein, Does Not Belong To Any Individual Or Specific Group. People Must Not Allow Monetary Gains To Cloud Their Judgement When Negotiating AnY Deals That Might Affect The Livelihood Of Citizens Of These Virgin Islands.
Isn’t the obvious solution if the National Parks Trust is doing so poorly financially to significantly raise the cost of CRUISE SHIP and other such tourists accessing the Baths, and the cost reaming the same for residents and citizen?