'It's not about power for us, it's about empowering our people'- VIP Chairman
![The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) is the oldest active political party in the (British) Virgin Islands. It has won more general elections (seven) than any other political party in the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_1_1b90f693e99e4b50989f20953eb4129e.jpg)
It was a gala night at Manhattan Bar and Lounge in Slaney for the annual fundraiser, which featured the honouring of three persons and one business: Lynette L. Harrigan, MBE, who was represented by her partner Ryan Geluk in her absence; former legislator Irene F. Penn-O'Neal, Shirley Rhymer-Abednego and Caribbean Cellars Ltd.
'It's not about power for us'
Closing out the celebration, Chairman of the VIP and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable Natalio D Wheatly (R7) said, "Gear up for a very strong 2023 election campaign, but it is not about power for us, it's about empowering our people."
Premier Wheatley told the gathering that the party had a very difficult four years but the Virgin Islands needs strong leadership that can secure the future of the Virgin Islands and to build on the foundation established by H. Lavity Stoutt and others.
"So despite the fact that things have been tough, I want us to have hope. I want is to have optimism, I want us to have a positive perspective on our future because I certainly believe that our best days are ahead of us and that we have everything we need here in the Virgin Islands to solve all the challenges and problems we face."
'VIP is bigger than any one individual'
Premier Wheatley paid special tribute to the founders the Virgin Islands Party especially its founding Chairman, the Late Hamilton Lavity Stoutt.
"The reason why the Virgin Islands Party has been able to survive so long, to the point where we have a Virgin Islands Party Government in power right now, is because the Virgin Islands Party is bigger than any one individual, bigger than H.L. Stoutt, bigger than Ralph O'Neal, bigger than Natalio Wheatley, bigger than Andrew Fahie, bigger than any one Individual.
“The Virgin Islands Party is based on a vision, a very strong vision established by our founding Chairman, who believed that the Virgin Islands could develop from way back when it did not have roads and we had to get around by sailing on sloops, where we did not have the commodities like roads and water," Dr Wheatley stated.
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43 Responses to “'It's not about power for us, it's about empowering our people'- VIP Chairman”
- across from The New View Inn
- on the poles in the middle coming down the highway
- Hope Hill where the fireman succumbed to his injuries
- elsewhere can’t miss them
REMOVE THEM!!!!!!
This may just happen to be the last opportunity you would have to fool or to try fooling us again. Thankyou. Do you feel good about it now?
They need to be honest with we the people by admiiting they have sat there and agreed with 99% of what the former premier was doing to the country. With millions of money miss manage in 4 years.
We still have the worse roads, and blaming the past government, we still have a sweage problem blaming the past government, still have schools that need fixing, government employees sill waiting on their increments still blaming the past government, millions in grants given during Covid for persons who dld not meet the criteria hardly any paper trail, whereas we were on the past government necks for plane and the wall.
At least with plane a criiminal investigation was launched in the district court of NY because we were scamed. With the wall it stood up after IRMA and Maria.
Look at the scholarship grants where were the systems in place by the board to give out these large amounts of money to persons who can afford to send their children to colleage especially when government base suppose to be $18,000 a semester. These grants that were given these children appear to be going Ivy league colleges.
The incenarator still not fix yet so much blamed was given on the past government I can go on forever.
Your information is all wrong especially about the plane. The government case in NY about the plane was because the VIP Government brought it as a result of the eight million dollar heist by locals and others all around the NDP. The Governor & Commissioner of Police unto this day refuse to bring charges or look into it. Why? because all of their friends and side kicks are involved and they intend to protect them at all costs? The VIP had a rough time during covid and they did better than most governments around the world including the UK.
I know they won't print this because they only print on there behalf
- New High School buildings and facility to take our teachers and children out of that moldy building they were put in by the NDP for a ridiculous amount of money monthly paid to the NDP partner where that contract was never audited.
- Electric shuttle bus ride service around town free to all who use it.
- New Road Town Market Square.
- National Sustainable development plan projecting the way forward for the BVI for the next 20 years which shows progressive and innovative thinking. This was assisted by the UN.
- Thousands of persons received their belonger status after being bluffed by NDP for years.
- Direct flights to USA(Miami) and back starting soon.
- Revived the Cruise industry after Covid
- Salary review for all public officers ongoing
- Paid some of the many increments due to public officers long before VIP took office.
- Repaired the BFEC school building on VG
- Repaired 3 Administration buildings on VG from the damage from Irma. One in North Sound and two in the Valley.
- Fixed the resivor in North Sound, VG and the water woes.
- Repaired the Administration building in JVD from the damage from Irma and named it.
- Fixed the Lee Road in Virgin Gorda
- Constructed new port dock, building and other facilities on JVD.
- Paved Dog Hole road on JVD.
- Constructed and paved new and existing roads on JVD.
- Address JVD water issues.
- Paved and Repaired new and existing roads on Anegada.
- Repaired CCEC school structure on Anegada
- Repaired basketball court and sport facility on Anegada
- Repaired Fire station building on Anegada.
- Repaired community center building on Anegda.
- Repaired Administration building on Anegada.
- Repaired many community centers on Tortola including Sea Cow's Bay, Brewer's Bay, West End and others.
- Constructed new modern lab at the hospital in Road Town.
- Completed and opened Hospital in VG.
- Passed many good governance legislation
- Governed during the most difficult time in the BVI and world during covid coupled with dealing with all the damages left unattended to by the NDP Government after Iram and Maria.
- Did an excellent job in keeping a high majority of us safe and alive during the worse of covid and prevented the economy from tanking out with some of the same grants they are now being crucified for now by others who want the public to think the good they did to help is really bad.
- Repaired many of the roads and infrastructure on Tortola and the other sister islands from the damages from Irma and Maria.
- Restarted the scholarship abroad programme that was stop after Irma where 50 or more BVI people are now receiving government scholarships yearly to study abroad.
- Teacher Associate & Bachelors programme at HLSCC and UWI to ensure teachers are trained and qualified.
- Gained accreditation of hospital.
- Assistance in funding Masters and above programmes.
- Major duty tax break for all during covid to pass on to consumers to try to assist in lowering the cost of living which is rising worldwide.
- Unemployment benefits during COVID where no one in the private industry could work during to the lock down.
- Transportation programme to assist taxi industry during covid lock down.
- Amended customs act to allow for many entrepreneurs in the marine industry during covid.
- Started Marine course and certification at HLSCC to create more opportunities in the marine industry through jobs and entrepreneurs by training and qualifying persons interested from BVI.
- Retrained and retool persons in the Hospitality industry during covid to prepare them for new opportunities.
- Started certification programme in the area of alternative energy at HLSCC.
- Gained accreditation of HLSCC.
- Continued subsidy for ferry transportation to and from Anegada for Anegadians.
- Repairing the Administration building in Tortola that was damaged after Irma and never attended to by the NDP.
- Tax break on stamp duty for all belongers purchasing land and property during the covid era.
- Saved many businesses, persons and university students from demise through the same grants they are now being crucified for by the well planned attack.
- Constructed, Repaired and paved many new and existing roads on Tortola.
- Repaired the Ivan Dawson school and many other school facilities on Tortola.
- Commenced construction of the long awaited and promised new school facility on Jost Van Dyke.
- Made sure everyone was fed during all the lock downs with covid with food vouchers and home deliveries among other means.
- kept us informed and safe as much as was possible during the early bad days of covid where no government in the world knew what to do as there was no playbook for this worse pandemic in the last 100 years.
- Made sure all district representatives received the same amount of funds whether in government or opposition to try to help we the people during the worse of covid.
- The first government in years to pass all budgets on time and balanced each budget each of the four years in office.
- Passed all financial ratings regionally and abroad.
- Funded many senior citizens programmes to take care of our seniors.
- Restarted the Alternative Education programme so persons who did not finish school can attend and get their high school diploma.
- Repaired the multipurpose complex and a/c after major damages due to Irma.
- Repaired the police stations and marine bases after damages from Irma.
- Assisted in the opening of Banco Popular on VG so there can be banking on VG again.
- Passed consumer protection legislation.
Will stop there for now as the list is extensive. The VIP good far out weighs their negative and that is why the ongoing devious plots are intensifying to try to get in people's mind otherwise to try to influence the elections and try to get VIP out but who GOD BLESS no man can curse.
"Give the VIP credit where it is due.
- New High School buildings and facility to take our teachers and children out of that moldy building they were put in by the NDP for a ridiculous amount of money monthly paid to the NDP partner where that contract was never audited.
- Electric shuttle bus ride service around town free to all who use it.
- New Road Town Market Square.
- National Sustainable development plan projecting the way forward for the BVI for the next 20 years which shows progressive and innovative thinking. This was assisted by the UN.
- Thousands of persons received their belonger status after being bluffed by NDP for years.
- Direct flights to USA(Miami) and back starting soon.
- Revived the Cruise industry after Covid
- Salary review for all public officers ongoing
- Paid some of the many increments due to public officers long before VIP took office.
- Repaired the BFEC school building on VG
- Repaired 3 Administration buildings on VG from the damage from Irma. One in North Sound and two in the Valley.
- Fixed the resivor in North Sound, VG and the water woes.
- Repaired the Administration building in JVD from the damage from Irma and named it.
- Fixed the Lee Road in Virgin Gorda
- Constructed new port dock, building and other facilities on JVD.
- Paved Dog Hole road on JVD.
- Constructed and paved new and existing roads on JVD.
- Address JVD water issues.
- Paved and Repaired new and existing roads on Anegada.
- Repaired CCEC school structure on Anegada
- Repaired basketball court and sport facility on Anegada
- Repaired Fire station building on Anegada.
- Repaired community center building on Anegda.
- Repaired Administration building on Anegada.
- Repaired many community centers on Tortola including Sea Cow's Bay, Brewer's Bay, West End and others.
- Constructed new modern lab at the hospital in Road Town.
- Completed and opened Hospital in VG.
- Passed many good governance legislation
- Governed during the most difficult time in the BVI and world during covid coupled with dealing with all the damages left unattended to by the NDP Government after Iram and Maria.
- Did an excellent job in keeping a high majority of us safe and alive during the worse of covid and prevented the economy from tanking out with some of the same grants they are now being crucified for now by others who want the public to think the good they did to help is really bad.
- Repaired many of the roads and infrastructure on Tortola and the other sister islands from the damages from Irma and Maria.
- Restarted the scholarship abroad programme that was stop after Irma where 50 or more BVI people are now receiving government scholarships yearly to study abroad.
- Teacher Associate & Bachelors programme at HLSCC and UWI to ensure teachers are trained and qualified.
- Gained accreditation of hospital.
- Assistance in funding Masters and above programmes.
- Major duty tax break for all during covid to pass on to consumers to try to assist in lowering the cost of living which is rising worldwide.
- Unemployment benefits during COVID where no one in the private industry could work during to the lock down.
- Transportation programme to assist taxi industry during covid lock down.
- Amended customs act to allow for many entrepreneurs in the marine industry during covid.
- Started Marine course and certification at HLSCC to create more opportunities in the marine industry through jobs and entrepreneurs by training and qualifying persons interested from BVI.
- Retrained and retool persons in the Hospitality industry during covid to prepare them for new opportunities.
- Started certification programme in the area of alternative energy at HLSCC.
- Gained accreditation of HLSCC.
- Continued subsidy for ferry transportation to and from Anegada for Anegadians.
- Repairing the Administration building in Tortola that was damaged after Irma and never attended to by the NDP.
- Tax break on stamp duty for all belongers purchasing land and property during the covid era.
- Saved many businesses, persons and university students from demise through the same grants they are now being crucified for by the well planned attack.
- Constructed, Repaired and paved many new and existing roads on Tortola.
- Repaired the Ivan Dawson school and many other school facilities on Tortola.
- Commenced construction of the long awaited and promised new school facility on Jost Van Dyke.
- Made sure everyone was fed during all the lock downs with covid with food vouchers and home deliveries among other means.
- kept us informed and safe as much as was possible during the early bad days of covid where no government in the world knew what to do as there was no playbook for this worse pandemic in the last 100 years.
- Made sure all district representatives received the same amount of funds whether in government or opposition to try to help we the people during the worse of covid.
- The first government in years to pass all budgets on time and balanced each budget each of the four years in office.
- Passed all financial ratings regionally and abroad.
- Funded many senior citizens programmes to take care of our seniors.
- Restarted the Alternative Education programme so persons who did not finish school can attend and get their high school diploma.
- Repaired the multipurpose complex and a/c after major damages due to Irma.
- Repaired the police stations and marine bases after damages from Irma.
- Assisted in the opening of Banco Popular on VG so there can be banking on VG again.
- Passed consumer protection legislation.
Will stop there for now as the list is extensive. The VIP good far out weighs their negative and that is why the ongoing devious plots are intensifying to try to get in people's mind otherwise to try to influence the elections and try to get VIP out but who GOD BLESS no man can curse."
Here we have it brought to the knees is a lie from hell. "Give Jack his jacket, and Jacklyn her lipstick" BOOM✨????????
According to one Calypso Singer: "You hear lies? Those are blatant lies been told by the VIP's Chairman, boasted about VIP superiority over others imperfect political parties, as it self is.
Allowed me VIP's Chairman to advised you how not to speak lies. Stop trying to defend them.
Lies cannot be defended. They only can be forgiven, if admitted honestly, and repent of their harmful pain caused against others.
Andrew mash up d place Natalio is doing a great job. U guys just haters. Give jack his jacket. He is a leader he stop up an make all the other members join up msde a party and now they all followed. Lol thats a true leader. Go with God natalio. We know u trying othrrwise we would already lost the constitution. But u doing great. We got u out here. U going show all them clowns who the real primer is. Uou hun. Well educated well spoken soft and gentle. U are our leader. Dont mine the noise. We got the vote for u. Waiting on increments thou lol.
Fear not for behold God is with us and not the foreign companies only. We must support our local companies and compete with expats companies.
Until the local people becomes owners of businesses we will look up to the foreign masters.
Cutting bush would suit him.