‘We have to travel…people need to grow up’- Premier Wheatley
Speaking on The Big Story on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, host Cathy O. Richards asked the Premier, “There seems to be this concern of the Virgin Islands, some sections, I should say, are quite uneasy about how they see spending happening in the Territory. How do you address these concerns? It is felt that you are not a master at spending economically.”
Premier Wheatley replied that those concerns are “funny” as under his leadership with the Virgin Islands Party, the Virgin Islands (VI) has had the biggest budget, made more money, and had the most expenditure in its history.
I have taken the VI through a ‘very difficult period’- Premier Wheatley
“We’ve had long-standing issues that have been unaddressed like our airport, and you know, we’ve been doing a number of things in the Territory which just really other persons have not addressed so persons will be able to judge at the end of the tenure what they think of my leadership,” he said.
Defending spending decisions, Premier Wheatley said he has taken the VI through a very difficult period.
“We’ve had of course hurricanes, we’ve had pandemics and of course, we’ve had political instability due to the Commission of Inquiry, and of course, we’ve been able to pilot the Territory and the Virgin Islands through that period,” he defended.
Premier Wheatley questioned if those critics, while making these accusations, could walk a mile in his shoes.
“Every day I work hard, Cathy, to make sure the Virgin Islands is a great place to live and to work. Yes we have a lot of challenges, we met these challenges here and all we can do is take them one challenge at a time and keep solving them which we’ve been doing,” he continued.
Travel concerns are a ‘political tactic’- Premier Wheatley
Richards also confronted Premier Wheatley on concerns surrounding spending things such as travel as opposed to “grave concerns” such as hospitals and the National Health Insurance.
“I think we do ourselves a disservice in the House of Assembly when we talk about travel because all we do is fool people, “ Premier Wheatley said, adding, “Every government travels…it was the same thing that happened when the National Democratic Party was in, you know whether Virgin Islands Party or whoever else would focus on travel and then we’d start to talk about the travelling minister, that’s been a technique going back as far as I can remember.”
Premier Wheatley said this tactic is neither new nor is it specific to him.
Government ministers travelling is nothing new, the Premier added, saying travelling is a must.
People need to grow up- Premier Wheatley
Premier Wheatley continued that travelling is also important to the Territory’s Financial Services sector.
“Financial services account for sixty per cent of government revenue, that pays for our schools, the same hospital you talk about, pays for the infrastructure and the roads,” he said.
He referenced his recent trip to the Asia-Pacific region in February 2025 asking, “Don’t you think it’s important for us?”
Premier Wheatley said the majority of the VI’s financial services business comes from Asia and so it is important that the government of the day ensures it remains strong and vibrant. “Persons prefer to play politics with things like travel,” he accused.
The Premier said he is not at a party when he travels, as it is very tiring and gruelling and taxing on your body.
“We’re working hard for the people of the Virgin Islands, and I make no bones about it, travel is needed, and people need to grow up and forget about those immature political tactics because that’s not going to help the people of the Virgin Islands,” Premier Wheatley chastised.
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16 Responses to “‘We have to travel…people need to grow up’- Premier Wheatley”
'Travel is a political tactics. No, it isn't. It is necessary only when needed. What are an ambasador duties, Premier? Do you personally need to travel so often? No, you don't, but you do. For you it is tactical, but for us, it is cash not always spent wisely.
"We are working hard for the people of the Virgin Islands,"
Hard yes, but not very wise.Not all, some only.
"People need to grow up - Premier Wheatley.
He is partly right. Some people do need to grow up. He is one of the group.
"Immature political tactics...
He spoke of his own immature political tactics.
I am not one that fuses about our government's needs to travel, but our citizens deserve a good report for overseas travel experience. That's only fair, Premier Natalio Sajuande Wheatley.
*Tax Threshold increased to $20,000
*Vybes K concert cancelled. Funds will now be utilized to offset some expenses for medical supplies for hospital
*Premier endeavors to limit travel expenses by flying Economy/stay in AirBnB/utilise Zoom calls
*NHI review
Or something like that...yuh know what I mean?
I does can't wid this place and our 'leaders' sometimes...well sah