News
PHOTO of the Day: Premier Wheatley & Minister Wheatley with Barbados’ Mottley in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates- While the Virgin Islands' four-member delegation is busy at work in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) looking after the Territory’s climate change interests, both Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) took some time out to network with both regional and international leaders.
COP28: We will promote the VI’s 'readiness to receive funding & investment'- Premier
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said the [British] Virgin Islands’ presence at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents an excellent opportunity to advocate in an international forum for the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that are especially vulnerable to ill-effects of climate change.
VI Gov’t spends $8.9M annually on renting office space- Premier Wheatley
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands spends some $8.9M annually to rent office space, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has disclosed.
Premier, Deputy Premier & Minister for Health off this week to Dubai & Aruba
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will lead a small delegation to the United Nations COP 28 World Climate Summit to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference, which is expected to attract hundreds of world and business leaders, corporations, non-governmental organisations, and global environmentalists, will take place from November 30, 2023, to December 12, 2023.
VI Premier congratulates Suriname on 48th independence anniversary
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands, via its Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has congratulated the people of Suriname as they celebrated their country's independence from the Netherlands.
High recurrent expenditure a concern for VI Gov’t
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said his Government has the “difficult task” of balancing important obligations like paying salaries and operating government with the need to control recurrent expenditure at sustainable levels while delivering on a holistic development agenda.
$20M allocated to Works Ministry for capital works in 2024 Budget
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The Ministry of Communications and Works under Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) is set to receive 15.92% of the total budget or $74,950,000 to fund a variety of infrastructural development projects in the Virgin Islands (VI) as set out in the 2024 budget, including the expansion of the T.B. Lettsome International Airport.
Private/Public stakeholder forum being planned on VI Minimum Wage– Premier
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said, in an effort to deal with the minimum wage issue in the Virgin Islands (VI), a stakeholder forum is being planned to involve both the government and private sectors.
VIP Gov’t forecasting increased revenue from taxes in 2024
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– The Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) is forecasting an overall revenue increase from its government services and taxes by $5.65 million over 2023 revenues to $382.67 million in 2024.
Some 60% VI public servants considered ‘working poor’- Premier Wheatley
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– An adjustment of the Virgin Islands (VI) minimum wage is underway to improve wages for persons specifically in the public service, referred to as the ‘working poor” in the territory by the Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in his 2024 Budget Speech delivered on November 21, 2023.

