Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

VI not seeking ‘short term benefits & long-term misery’ – Dr the Hon Wheatley

- says 'careful, cautious' approach has served territory well throughout the pandemic
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries, and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said that the VI is not looking for any COVID-19 economic strategy that will bring short term benefits and long term misery to the territory. Photo: Facebook
Dr Wheatley's statement came ahead of the Premier Andrew A. Fahie's (R1) announcement yesterday, October 26, 2020, that tourists coming to VI starting December 1, 2020, will be subject to at least 4 COVID-19 test and must have medical travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage. Photo: Facebook/GIS
Dr Wheatley's statement came ahead of the Premier Andrew A. Fahie's (R1) announcement yesterday, October 26, 2020, that tourists coming to VI starting December 1, 2020, will be subject to at least 4 COVID-19 test and must have medical travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage. Photo: Facebook/GIS
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries, and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said the Virgin Islands (VI) is not looking for any COVID-19 economic strategy that will bring short term benefits and long term misery to the territory.

The Minister made the statements during the Thursday, October 22, 2020, edition of Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780AM, when talking about the VI’s overall response to the virus, which he says has worked well so far in the territory.

Outbreaks ‘left, right & centre’ – Dr Wheatley

“We've had certain models thrown in our face…we must be a model like this country or like that country and left and right all of these countries that have been put forward as a model, you know, they've been having outbreaks left, right and centre,” he said.

Hon Wheatley's statement came ahead of Premier Andrew A. Fahie's (R1) announcement yesterday, October 26, 2020, that tourists coming to the VI, starting December 1, 2020, will be subjected to at least four COVID-19 tests and must have medical travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage.

Tourists will also be required to briefly quarantine, make a subscription to a contact tracing system through their mobile phone and, in some cases, have a wearable device.

The costs associated with these measures would be borne by the visitor.

Hon Wheatley said that in the case of other countries taking different approaches than the VI in the management of the pandemic, “you can’t just look at the initial action they take, you have to look at the effectiveness of the action.”

VI’s approach served the country well – Dr Wheatley

“We have proven over the course of the last few months with this pandemic, that the careful, cautious approach has served us well and it actually, in the long term, allows us to do things more quickly,” the Minister said.

He said should the administration take a reckless and irresponsible approach towards the economic management of the pandemic, it will only bring short term benefits and long term misery.

17 Responses to “VI not seeking ‘short term benefits & long-term misery’ – Dr the Hon Wheatley”

  • Lord o (27/10/2020, 20:07) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why? U R the only one we counting on to bring a good balance to listen to the people, to represent the people, it's disappointing to hear you talking like this when you know that you all refused to listen to the people with the knowledge.... Excuses won't cut it...U all messed up big time....
  • support (27/10/2020, 21:01) Like (11) Dislike (48) Reply
    I support the way that the VIP is handling this pandemic. If we let our guard down now it will be detrimental. It will be sacrifising ourselves for money. The problem is world wide.



    • Expected.. (28/10/2020, 04:45) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      If we listen to these Civil servants who think that because their salaries are sure that everything is ok and things can remain lock down....They will run this country bankrupt and they too wont have a job....Ww can be safe with a simple and effective plan...8 days quarantine plus another 2 days waiting on results thats 10 days, get real, this plan is weak and without balance or with little or no consideation for businesses.....I will applaud the Govt for their press conference last night, listening to the peopke, answering questions, having a discussion, promise to make adjusments...Thats all the peopke been asking for, for months, "Listen to us, dont shut us out" Now we feel like we have a govt...
    • What a ting (28/10/2020, 06:08) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      You can say that because you are perhaps getting a salary . We have to live with COVID shut down the economy =more hardships ? Rent to pay , food to buy , children to educate , home to run , No job no income = more poverty
    • voter (28/10/2020, 11:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You obviously is not a business owner and don’t know what you are talking about!!!
    • vip (28/10/2020, 13:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Is getting paid as government workers regardless of pandemic. They don't own businesses and every evening there is food on the table for them...
  • BVI (27/10/2020, 21:38) Like (8) Dislike (17) Reply
    Sowande u guys don't get weary and careless like Trump the POTUS. Keep up the great work.
  • zone 7 (27/10/2020, 22:25) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
    Showada is a good man
  • not a belonger (28/10/2020, 01:10) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sorry to hear and read all the problems with BVI not being able to balance protection from the virus with keeping belongers safe and prosperous. We've been to your islands as bare boaters since 1989. We had seen many good changes by your leaders each time we visited until the past 2-3 years. From our point of view it apears those who 'have' are not so interested in making sure those who 'have less' have the opportunity to grow and prosper. As visitors, we never took for granted that the islands were peoples homes and livelyhoods and always did what we could to help a bit extra for those who helped us. Now we find ourselves rescheduled to BVI for the 3rd time thisyear only to learn that 4+ of our 7 days will be spent in a quaratine room. Why even propose something so ridiculus for people traveling thousands of miles and spending $7000+ for a bareboat for a week. Add to that the $1000 worth of groceries, $500 in fuel, $200 in moorings, $1500+ in meals and shoping; so the economic impact of one charter is in excess of $10,000. Money is not everything? You are correct, unless of course you need it to buy food, pay the rent, keep the power on, generally have a living. Why not have visitors test 3 times each of 3-4 day periods prior to departing their home base? If visitors are headed to a charter boat, let them quarantine on the boat on a mooring based on their prearranged float plan with tracking enabled. There are ways to make this work. Unfortunately, I really doubt you guys will survive with this newest set of restrictions. We're already looking for other islands to charter from. There are islands that have this figured out where their citizens also have a stake in the process. We will miss you, but we simply cannot make this work the way it is proposed.
  • Rubber Duck (28/10/2020, 03:23) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Of course none of you making these decisions are effected by them. You will continue to collect your large salaries paid for by the taxpayer and no doubt continue to receive the many side benefits of being in the BVI government . Would you make the same decisions if your businesses and livelihoods were sinking into the sand ? I doubt it.
  • @not a belonger. U break my heart (28/10/2020, 04:54) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    As a resident who loves the BVI, these kind of statements break my heart,. Especially when I can feel the genuineness as I read....I can see you are genuinely care and concern and you are cancelling your trip with a Heavy heart... Sorry...I think we can get people out of quarantine and free in 3 days if we are determine to do it...and we can do it safely,.
  • SEMSE (28/10/2020, 05:29) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply

    GOOD TALK WE HAVE TO PLAN WISLEY IT IS ONLY THOSE WHO DO NOT THIMK THAT THE COUNTRY CAN LEGO ALL THAT THEY HAVE DURING THE PAN DEMIC. SOME OF WHO TALKING ESPECIALLY THOSE FRO, A MPTHER CARIBBEAM COUNTRY NEED TO SHUT UP OR GO HOME. WHERE THEY COME FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT DOING THEIR BEST TO SAVE MONEY YES THEY HELP BUT THE LONG TERM EFFECT IS S HEAD. WHEATKEY YOU ARE RIGHT THE BVI HAS TO TAKE HEAD NOW AND DONOT FOLLOW THE LOUD NOISE, YHE FORMER MINISTER OF RDUCATION MADE SOME COMMENTS BUT TO TELL THE TRUTH HE WAS JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND HE NEED TO GO SIT DOWN OR STAND UP TALL AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THE SH** THEM HE MADE WHEN HE WAS MINISTER. YES WE HAVE TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND GO GOOD IN THE NAME OF TGE LORD MYRON GO AND EDUCATE YOUR SELF AND STOP TALKING A VACK OF JEALOUS FROUGHT AND GO CHECK YOUR RESTERAUNTS, WHEATLEY YOU ARE DOING VERY GOOD SO FAR WE WANT OUR SCGIILS OPEN SO IT CAN YAKE THE STRAIN OFF PARENTS IN SOME WAY

    • Wisley??? (28/10/2020, 11:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who is Wisley? I stopped reading and the mention of Wisley to ponder his existence. He must be very intriguing.
  • Greed vs Reality (28/10/2020, 07:21) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    There is a "method to the madness of the VIP"..their approach does make sense. At the end of the day, there are tourists who would not mind the little inconvenience if they feel that they are unlikely to catch COVID during their vacation.

    If the VIP were to open the borders in a reckless manner, you guys would be the same persons to crucify the VIP, ... "damn if they do and damn if they don't".

    Good thinking VIP!
  • lol (28/10/2020, 07:29) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply

    Cautious... meaning they have no clue and are making it up as they go!!!

  • Well said (28/10/2020, 08:59) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    These people are to money hungry. I agree Hon. Wheatley .
  • No fish to fry (29/10/2020, 08:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am not a Government employee and I am not a local . However I have checked very keenly the protocols other places including the other caribbean Islands have in place and most them are stricter than the VI protocols. You people give it a rest and let the VI Government run their country. I will stay in my country and abide with the rules my Government have put in place.. Why should the open up the country with little or no quarantine and then their country will have a huge Covid infection situation go on. If you who are bashing the Govt. realy love the VI as you so claim you woulld have some patience but it is all about the money you are not making.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.