A view of the ferry terminal at Setting Point, Anegada. The Government of the Virgin Islands has promised improved port infrastructure in Anegada. Photo: VINO/File

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to delivering improved port infrastructure to the people of Anegada, citing the principle of equity and the pressing need to serve both residents and the tourism sector. Photo: GIS

Speaking on April 16, 2025, during a live broadcast of Virgin Islands Voice, in response to a question posed by Acting Communications Director Ms Karia J. Christopher on the development of a "port terminal" in Anegada, Premier Wheatley in providing an update, acknowledged the infrastructural challenges faced by the island and pledging government action.

“We were in Anegada on Sunday for a national tourism policy consultation; It was brought up in our discussions that if you want to have tourism anywhere, you have to make sure that the infrastructure is in place to make it a reality.”

Speaking to the dual importance of infrastructure for both tourism development and the wellbeing of local residents, he said, “We have to serve the needs of the residents; We also spoke about the concept of equity.”

To this end, he posits, “Equity isn’t necessarily equality. Equity is ensuring that we have a standard level of service for all residents of the Virgin Islands, regardless of where they live.”

Conceding that such equity may come with a higher price tag for more remote locations, he disclosed, “That may require for us to spend a little bit more money in places which are more remote like Anegada; So we’ve committed to improving the infrastructure in Anegada.”

‘Government has heard their concerns’- Premier

According to Premier Wheatley, “Anegada needed quite a lot of work, we have to say, and while progress has been slower than residents would like, the government has heard their concerns; We appreciate those investments are not happening soon enough but we’ve heard very directly from the people of Anegada that we need better infrastructure at our ports, and we will deliver those improvements.”

He did seek to point out that the responsibility for the ports lies with the BVI Ports Authority, under the oversight of the Ministry of Communications and Works and while the Minister responsible has been away, that coordination is underway.

“It requires me to have a conversation with the Minister of Communications and Works, who is responsible for ports and he will have a discussion with the Director of the Ports Authority. I’m sure that they have plans—because of course I know commitments have been made to the people of Anegada, as it pertains to improvements to the ports.”

According to Dr Wheatley, “It’s just a matter of getting an update on where those plans are.”