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HoA passes 2026 budget of $562M following adjustments

-'Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith said budgetary process is both comprehensive & deliberate'
The House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands passed the 2026 budget with amendments on December 18, 2025. Photo: Internet Source
 Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) said the budgetary process is both comprehensive and deliberate. Photo: YouTube/HoA
Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) said the budgetary process is both comprehensive and deliberate. Photo: YouTube/HoA
The 2026 budget, the largest in Virgin Islands history, was presented on November 6, 2025, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheately (R7). Photo: Facebook
The 2026 budget, the largest in Virgin Islands history, was presented on November 6, 2025, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheately (R7). Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The 2026 national budget of the Virgin Islands (VI) has risen by almost twelve million dollars since it was first presented on November 6, 2025, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheately (R7).

On December 18, 2025, during the Continuation of the Twelfth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA), Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4), said the increase was necessary following the Standing Finance stage. 

According to Hon Hodge-Smith, the budget increased from the original projected budget range of $550,591,000.00 to $562 million. 

“These adjustments resulted from, among other factors, approved amendments to requests made during standing finance and in some cases, these requests were supported by the majority of members.”

Two draft budgets 

Hon Hodge-Smith explained that the "budgetary process is both comprehensive and deliberate". 

“It begins with the submission of budget requests by all ministries and departments, and these requests are then compiled by the Ministry of Finance into what is known as Draft Budget A. Following this, the budget address is delivered on budget day, where the government, through the Honourable Premier, outlines its priorities, focus, and plans for the year 2026.”

She further explained that standing finance takes place after which is a critical stage in the process. 

“All ministries, departments and statutory boards appear before this honourable House of Assembly to defend their allocations and, where necessary, lobby for additional funds not reflected in Draft Budget A. At the conclusion of standing finance, Draft B is presented, incorporating any approved amendments arising from that process.”

Those who appear before the House during the standing finance phase have to justify the budgets they have submitted as well as request any additional funds they may need. 

“They have to give reasons, they have to explain themselves, and then members will decide whether they will support or not support these adjustments, and hence we may see a change from when the budget address was presented with an amount, and then today we have a different amount.”

Following the standing finance stage, the members of the House make their own individual contributions before going into the committee stage, which is followed by the budget ultimately being passed. 

The House entered the committee stage following the conclusion of the budget debate on December 18, 2025. 

The 2026 national budget was also passed in the House of Assembly on December 18, 2025. 

See link to related article

https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/premier-wheatley-presented-largest-budget-in-vis-history-of-over-550m

13 Responses to “HoA passes 2026 budget of $562M following adjustments”

  • 2024 (26/12/2025, 12:27) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    will the public road through sea cows bay be fixed or the tax payers money goes towards 2026 entertainment packages

    asking for my siamese cat
  • pat (26/12/2025, 15:31) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Not even a bad wolf could stop the vip
  • Anonymous (26/12/2025, 15:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good time for forward moments
  • bat man (26/12/2025, 16:46) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    The road them like shit ???? when they gona get fix just a bunch off talking fats hogs bay road and sea cow bay I should say dirt track
  • hmm (26/12/2025, 16:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    how much of it is for district 7, imagine thats the premeir district and its dull, dead, neglected, outcasted etc etc.
  • —————————— (26/12/2025, 17:04) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Tensions have run high during the debate but the government of the day always wins
  • simple (26/12/2025, 19:06) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I sit and I listen to everyone pontificating about what will cause the VIP to win again. Why are all of us acting as if everyone is morally corrupt? I refuse to believe that persons will look around, using their own eyes, listening with their own ears, considering with their own brains where we are as a country and vote back these intelligent, but unfocused and uncaring young people into power. I know that persons are of the opinion that what are you going to do for me, but where exactly is that getting us? Look around. Think about it. You get a little petty contract. You get your white envelope. Some got a little more, but those are just a handful. We sit down and we speak terribly about the persons who can assist us and take us out of the doldrums that we are in and we glorify those who have put us there. Why is that? It is sickening. Truly think about it. Should we vote back these young people who are morally corrupt and now millionaires or close to being so in a few short years on the backs of the taxpayers? And if, yes, why? What have they done? What can they do? What have they fixed? They continue to fight to be re-elected and we call it chess and call them intelligent. That is their interest. Every symposium, political conference, meetings etc, they are there. They will find money in a heart beat for fun and frolick, but how are we better? How have we grown because they have been here? Will they leave us better than they met us? And, alas, some are calling for a new 13, will they be 13 fresh faced university graduates who have not been in the trenches and have not managed, brokered deals or even done something kind for their fellow men again? You see being a public servant is an important job. You have to think about the persons who elected you. How are they doing? Are they eating, healthy, happy, prospering or are they unhappy, hungry and broke? The prices in our country and indeed the world are slowly but surely pricing most of us out of being able to pay for our homes and feed ourselves and our children soon. This is a wealthy country. What is the Government putting in place to alleviate the stresses of life and to foster a better quality of life for us? The important needs that are there for a blind man to see, road infrastructure, fixing our public buildings, building a library, constant water in our pipes, proper health, food on our seniors' tables, those are being ignored. Yet they are spending more money in the history of these Virgin Islands and bragging about it. The fact is most of that money goes to them: Huge salaries, everybody has a nice car that has to be gassed and maintained and their travel expenses as well. What about us? What do we need? Do they care? No. They do not. So why do they deserve to be put back? Is it because they are V-I-P? We look like idiots. We shound like idiots, so we must be idiots. Well, it won't be my vote for I am not an idiot.
  • Stealth (27/12/2025, 09:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Will a large O&M and Capital budget produce and provide a higher lever and quality of service, improved physical infrastructure, higher performing institutions, etc., or the same old $hit——-underperforming. This is the largest budget ever but will it produced the highest level of output? If no, the question should be why, why, why?
  • Big Richard (27/12/2025, 21:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did you guys figure in the kickbacks, payoffs, relatives “consulting fees “ and of course you’re “expenses” over and above your bloated salary. ?
  • @simple (28/12/2025, 10:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sorry to inform you , that we have no other choice, who else can we voted for, do you imagine, (Skeleton, Penno or walwin ) leading our country,, are you crazy??? God knows what he is doing and how he is doing it , they had the opportunity to govern, but they all wanted to be premier , they are so foolish and power hungry, that they preferred to go down to drain than to allow one of them to lead .. think about that ,,
  • @@simple (28/12/2025, 12:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You got to be joking? Are you saying that we have to sit back and let the VIP pound us further down into the dirt? Are you saying that's all we deserve and the best we can do? Well, if you are, I am not the crazy one. I am not a Walwyn fan because he is very divisive and who he is trying to divide is the ancestral Virgin Isdlanders and the Belongers, persons that live comfortably together for his own gain, a vote. But I will tell you this, put Skelton and Penn on the other side, just by themselves and I guarantee you they will do better than the nine that are over there now. Why, because Skelton is a doer and he has managed something. He has experience. But you don't have to want Skelton, Penn or Walwyn. You can be praying for new, fresh blood because VIP should not be an option. They are doing nothing. You must be senile.
  • @ @simple (28/12/2025, 13:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All those questions that were asked and your only answer is that you have no choice because who we have is better than the Opposition? Speaks volumes and shows your agreement with my comments. Wow. Well, dear, if you do not deserve better, then don't vote for better. But I hope and pray there are not enough persons thinking like you because better we must have to survive. Have a wonderful day.
  • jajajaja (29/12/2025, 09:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    After spending years in the Ministry of Finance, I can say this is the "election" around the corner, the budget. Let's rush, do improper work, give out money to our henchmen, and prepare for the election. Water problems (temporary fix), Road problems (temporary fix), make sure we have cash on hand to give out around election time to unstable folks, Buy a washer or two for people in the community.

    Then, then, after the vote has passed, they will disappear yup. Stop accepting your calls, laugh about it amongst themselves. JAJAJAJAJA....... These VIP upcoming parties will be bigger than when Andrew was the head of the party. YOLO Promotions done got it line up!!!!!!!!!!!


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