The Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands begins today, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Photo: HoA/File

Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) is expected to ask Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) about his government’s plans to attract inward investment into the territory’s tourism sector, as regional countries operating Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes are now under increased international pressure during a sitting of the House of Assembly which begins on July 21, 2026. Photo: YouTube/File

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia all operate Citizenship by Investment Programmes which have come under increased international pressure over the years. Photo: Internet Source

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is expected to table the Accountant General’s Report for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters of 2025, among other reports during the Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly. Photo: GIS/File

According to the Order Paper, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is expected to table the Accountant General’s Report for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters of 2025. 

The 70th Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival Report 2024; Civil Registry and Passport Office - Annual Report and Accounts 2024 and 2025; and the BVI Financial Services Commission Annual Report and Audited Financial Statement 2024 will also be tabled, among others. 

Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) will table the Virgin Islands Centenarian Programme Policy: (Honouring Our Elders, Preserving our Legacy, December 2025); British Virgin Islands Cancer Society Annual Report 2024/2025 and the society’s Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended October 31, 2025; and His Majesty’s Prison Service Annual Reports for 2024 anf 2025. 

Penn, Turnbull & Walwyn to ask questions

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), and Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) are on the Order Paper to ask questions. 

Their questions will be directed to Premier Wheatley; Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3); Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5); Hon Wheatley, and Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL). 

Their questions will focus on getting updates on the country’s finances, sargassum mitigation, road infrastructure projects, the health system, including the BVI Health Services Authority, water supply issues, matters arising at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, and more. 

CBI uncertainty & possible effects on VI’s Tourism revenue

Hon Walwyn is expected to ask Premier Wheatley about his government's plans to attract inward investment into the territory’s tourism sector, as regional countries operating Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes are now under increased international pressure. 

Caribbean countries, among them Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, suffered major setbacks regarding their citizen’s access to the United States, with stricter visa restrictions implemented by the Donald J. Trump administration. 

The United Kingdom also imposed visa requirements for citizens of Dominica and Saint Lucia. 

The latest blow to these islands came earlier this month when the European Union wrote to leaders informing them that they should phase out their CBI Programmes by June 2028 or risk losing visa-free access. 

The Virgin Islands does not have a CBI Programme, however, with these countries facing uncertainty about their CBI Programmes, Walwyn’s question seeks to clarify the Virgin Islands’ (VI) plans if they do, in fact, begin seeking a larger portion of the tourism market to offset the unexpected revenue loss. 

The Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth HoA is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM.