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VI & DR discuss economic cooperation & international trade

Virgin Islands Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley, left, and Dominican Republic Vice Minister for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation Honourable Hugo Francisco Rivera Fernández held a bilateral meeting on trade in Santiago, Chile recently. Photo: Office of the Premier
A planned Virgin Islands trade mission to the Dominican Republic was also discussed. Photo: huffingtonpost.com
A planned Virgin Islands trade mission to the Dominican Republic was also discussed. Photo: huffingtonpost.com
SANTIAGO, Chile, SA- Virgin Islands Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley and Dominican Republic Vice Minister for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation Honourable Hugo Francisco Rivera Fernández held a bilateral meeting in which they discussed the importance of a regional economic hub in the Caribbean to facilitate international trade, particularly as the world economy faces strong economic headwinds that threaten global supply chains.

The Vice Minister, according to a press release from the Office of the Premier today, March 8, 2025, highlighted the Dominican Republic’s growth as an economic hub in the region whose economy has strong transportation and trade links with North America, Central America, South America and Europe.

Hon Rivera emphasised the potential benefits of these links to the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean countries seeking to diversify their trade relationships.

The Vice Minister and Special Envoy also continued VI-DR talks on strengthening economic cooperation, including an initial Virgin Islands trade mission to the Dominican Republic.

Benefits for VI

Commenting on the bilateral meeting, Mr Wheatley said,

“It was a pleasure to engage with Vice Minister Rivera to continue BVI-DR discussions on strengthening economic cooperation. The impressive economic growth and development of the Dominican Republic over the past decade has seen the country emerge as a critical economic hub in the Caribbean. As a close neighbour, the British Virgin Islands can benefit from the Dominican Republic’s regional and international trade and transportation links. We will continue to work with our Dominican partners to strengthen economic cooperation, including the organisation of a BVI trade mission to the Dominican Republic in the near future.

The bilateral meeting took place in the margins of the 8th Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development at UN ECLAC in Santiago, Chile from March 31 to April 4, 2025.

15 Responses to “VI & DR discuss economic cooperation & international trade”

  • ccc (08/04/2025, 17:13) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good move
  • mingo (08/04/2025, 18:18) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    DR have factories in terms of food and some other items they manufacture such as furniture. But where do you think most of their raw material cones from? Miami is within minutes drom DR, so they too depend highly on American imports.

    If its produce coming straight from their farmers, yes, that is workable and we must bur local and regional. No problem there'. But except for agriculture, what other products can we get from DR that doesn't get to them through U.S ports from China and other countries?

    St Maarten is Dutch and they import directly from Holland and Europe. How can we get ships that go through Panama Canal to go St Maarten instead of Miami where the one million docking fee goes into effect.

    America is no longer it. We gots to see how we can survive without them
  • Conflict of Interest (08/04/2025, 18:30) Like (21) Dislike (3) Reply
    someone else besides the brother of the premier should be talking to the DR. This is a major conflict of interest cause he will always do whatever slowande wants instead of doing whats best for Virgin Islanders.
    • Good stuff (08/04/2025, 19:17) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
      Don't be an idiot. Wheatley is a diplomat working for the country. Who else goin speak to these people. He a good diplomat man. Accept it an stop hatin.
    • I must disagree (08/04/2025, 19:27) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      I am not partisan in this discussion but mr Benito Wheatley has been in leadership and advisorary roles for both NDP and VIP and from what I have seen has been objective in his advocacy for the BVI for both parties. To be realistic will he advocate more forcefully for his brother? I should think so, he is human and anyone with any sense of loyalty would for their sibling , but in doing so the BVIslanders are the real winners in anything that he accomplishes whether on behalf of his brother or others.
    • @ conflict of interest (09/04/2025, 14:04) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Wheatley have been representing BVI before his brother became premier: why dont U apply for the Job
  • 911 (08/04/2025, 20:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    just don't give away the country to them Spanish women
  • Saw this (08/04/2025, 23:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Coming
  • Herbs Powa (09/04/2025, 03:19) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Africa is right off Barbados and the Caribbean should be using them instead of A-fake-rica.
  • Eldread (09/04/2025, 07:36) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Does Benito Wheatley know that these Caucasian looking Dominican republic officials in power are the remains of plantation owners who rule over the black asking African descendants in Santo Domingo? They treat black people bad, especially the Haitian they hate them, deporting them even without clothing, and the borders was put up by murdering colonials during slavery, Benito is engaging with racist. Couldn't he find a black country now there is a crisis? It's like only the white people can do things and Benito seeking white validation.
  • You are spaeking truth but... (09/04/2025, 09:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dread you have valid points there is definately colorism in the DR as there is in US and even in our own Territory but 2 points 1. The way to address the issue is to engage not ignore 2. Many of these Latin as the seek white validation and proximity to whitness find that the issue is more complicated than just skin color. I have seen white Hispanics humililated by White Americans because they dont speak english . So many times its about culture.
  • ToBVI (09/04/2025, 12:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mind the company you keep!
  • headz (09/04/2025, 13:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    wa we got to trade? coco?
    prostitutes?
    fast boats?

    help me out here ah thinking
  • taxpayer (09/04/2025, 14:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    With all the traveling our government does, I am sure they have been seeking out alternative suppliers for the BVI just as a practice of good government.


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