The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government came under heavy criticism last evening, August 31, as residents accused it of neglecting Virgin Gorda (VG) while now rushing to fix roads and undertake projects with elections constitutionally due by July 2027.
Former Director of Tourism and resident Sharon Flax Brutus told Ninth District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley that he appeared to be “the cheese standing alone”, as no other government minister or At-Large representative attended the Ninth District Community Meeting at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Hall.
“There are five ministers in Cabinet and you are the representative of this district and a member of government,” Flax Brutus said.
She questioned why Wheatley was the only government representative at the table when several concerns required answers from other ministers and At-Large representatives.
“Where is our Government’s priority when it comes to Virgin Gorda, other than us possibly being the cash cow from a tourism perspective?” she asked.
Flax Brutus also challenged the absence of timelines for the projects outlined by Wheatley, arguing that Virgin Gorda had been left idle for years while work was now suddenly being undertaken.
“When everything is a priority, nothing gets done, which seems to be what is happening for the most part on Virgin Gorda,” she said. “All of a sudden roads are being fixed.”
She also questioned the continued silence of other government members on issues affecting the sister island.
“Where are your government ministers who are supposed to be our leaders, who are extremely quiet on a lot of issues that affect Virgin Gorda?” she asked.
Other residents echoed those concerns, accusing the Government of taking a nonchalant approach towards Virgin Gorda and paying attention only when something goes seriously wrong.
Water shortages, unreliable electricity, poor roads, the need for a sewerage treatment plant and concerns surrounding The Baths were among the issues raised.
Underscoring residents’ concerns, the electricity went off during the meeting and remained out until it ended.
Wheathley Responds
Wheatley acknowledged that Virgin Gorda should not be grappling with basic utility and infrastructure problems, given its importance to the Territory’s tourism industry.
“We should not be experiencing power problems, water problems, and our roads should be better and look clean,” he said.
Wheatley identified stable electricity, a reliable water supply and better roads as his three main priorities for Virgin Gorda.
“If you are going to be a tourist island, your power must be stable, your water must be steady and your roads must be good,” he said. “Those are your fundamental things, and then you build from there.”
However, he blamed the structure of the Territory’s budget, saying it does not properly recognise Virgin Gorda’s special circumstances or provide what the island needs.
“That is why I called for a special dispensation for Virgin Gorda as a special case,” Wheatley said, adding that he hoped to secure such an arrangement.
He also pointed to the political difficulty of being Virgin Gorda’s lone district representative among the 13 elected members of the House of Assembly.
“It’s one against 12, and everybody wants something for their district,” he said.
Responding to concerns about the absent At-Large representatives, Wheatley confirmed that they knew about the meeting.
“I cannot speak for the At-Large. I guess some are on their way. I do not know where they are because they are all aware that I have a meeting, and they are welcome to come to my meeting at any time,” he said.
By the time the meeting ended, Wheatley remained the only government member present.
How can it be one against twelve? Four of them don't even have a district. And is this something new, or was it always like that? Was it like that when you stood for government? If so surely you had a plan to deal with that.