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

‘I definitely reject this concept’ that VI is corrupt- Premier Wheatley

- calls Ben W. Judas’ claims nonsense
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has rubbished claims by former Special Adviser to the British Foreign Secretary, Ben W. Judas, that the Virgin Islands (VI) is corrupt. Photo: VINO
Ben W. Judah in a recent appearance on the British podcast, Winston Marshall Show, said a lot of corruption is taking place in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided/Royal Gazette
Ben W. Judah in a recent appearance on the British podcast, Winston Marshall Show, said a lot of corruption is taking place in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided/Royal Gazette
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has rubbished claims by Ben W. Judas, the former Special Adviser to the British Foreign Secretary, that the Virgin Islands (VI) is corrupt.

Mr Judas went on the British podcast, Winston Marshall Show, recently, where he shared his vision for the British Overseas Territories and his desire to see them renamed Overseas Kingdoms. 

He said Overseas Territories have become “problematic” as they do not receive large amounts of money or support from the UK. 

“In some ways, they’ve become quite corrupt, like the British Virgin Islands; a lot of corruption that takes place there,” Judas claimed. 

Ben Judas is out of place- Premier 

“I think Ben Judas is quite out of place in calling the Virgin Islands corrupt,” Premier Wheatley said when asked to reply to Judas’ claims, during a press conference on Friday, March 6, 2026. 

Dr Wheatley said he has lived here in the VI his entire life and is familiar with the people. 

“It’s a proud people that we have here, hardworking people of integrity.”

The Premier went a step further and said he could point out many acts of corruption in the UK. 

Come see for yourself- Premier Wheatley 

Judas also said incorporating Overseas Territories “boldly and proudly” is in his view, the best way to deal with the situation, “so their local elites don't need to do this sort of ‘fraudulenting’ that they're doing”.

“As I said before, we had some administrative challenges that needed to be improved in our governance structure, but I definitely reject this concept that the Virgin Islands is a corrupt place. He needs to travel to the Virgin Islands and do some investigations, and he will find that what he mentioned is utter nonsense.”

See link to related article

https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/former-fcdo-special-adviser-envisions-a-global-britain-including-ots-

28 Responses to “‘I definitely reject this concept’ that VI is corrupt- Premier Wheatley”

  • Why does he need to fly (09/03/2026, 11:19) Like (74) Dislike (13) Reply
    BVI airline, Bank of Asia, Biwater, Headcoach , Government building rental Nepotism. You can read all this.
    • And .. (10/03/2026, 06:55) Like (32) Dislike (4) Reply
      Hospital, Pier Park, Wall, Covid grants, hurricane supplies, Sea Cows bay plant, construction contracts, tender waivers ….
    • Gary Oak (10/03/2026, 11:23) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      anddddd the government has not been audited in decades....................hmmmmmmm

      since we wanna prove we not corrupt why not audit and show the record in black and white mr wheat!
  • ? (09/03/2026, 12:01) Like (41) Dislike (5) Reply
    Grab the popcorn, this is going to be pure comedy.
  • Wallop that Jack Donkey (09/03/2026, 12:14) Like (69) Dislike (6) Reply
    Be careful with your public statements on corruption Mr.Premier. There is corruption in every country on God's rare earth. It's here in the Virgin Islands (BRITISH) at the highest levels. Andrew Alturo Fahie stated boldly to the entire world that there is no corruption in the Virgin Islands (BRITISH) I say no more. And just like how you Mr.Premire and your political Gang do not want incorruptible virgin Islanders or EXPATS in certain departments of your government.
  • A13MG PARTY (09/03/2026, 12:17) Like (53) Dislike (6) Reply
    Quit the BS Premier- people can read you like a book
  • @ why does he need to fly (09/03/2026, 12:18) Like (13) Dislike (9) Reply
    Stop your lies there was zero corruption in biwater, ZERO...just at the time the NDP and their investment club opposed the project so please, if you going to call things at least be accurate!!! You forget the TPP over run now that was real corruption and today the man say he wants to be premier and gone back with the ndp well sah
  • o (09/03/2026, 12:25) Like (39) Dislike (4) Reply
    Was it this guy who said he will spend every drop of $100 million some 2 years after, one year before an election. where is our hourly wage increase?
  • WTF (09/03/2026, 12:28) Like (31) Dislike (4) Reply
    If only there were some sort of inquiry, with lengthy reports and televised hearings for the public to see, that might help everyone make up their own minds about the level of corruption in the BVI.
  • Challenge Him (09/03/2026, 12:46) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    These outrageous claims cannot be met with just denials, challenge him to articulate incidents of systematic corruption and counter with facts. Bad behaviour is never justified by pointing at equally or worse behaviour. And if need be demand a public apology when his clamis cannot be sustantiated.
  • guy hill (09/03/2026, 12:49) Like (12) Dislike (8) Reply
    Judas is not your friend. A former liar. He is like a quarter. He would change for a dollar. But he should be challenged to prove the allegations he has made and is making about the BVI.
    One must generally have credible evidence to back up public accusations of corruption.

  • Joker... (09/03/2026, 12:50) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Who made the comment is irrelevant but that is the perception of BVI from Whitehall and the persons charged with dealing with BVI on a diplomatic level. Simply denying that the BVI is corrupt is irresponsible..... It could be a question of semantics and what you determine is corruption - see the first comment above. But almost ALL countries have corruption and the UK is no exception. The issue is how it is perceived and dealt with in BVI.
  • Correction (09/03/2026, 12:57) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes they are.
  • jack (09/03/2026, 13:53) Like (9) Dislike (16) Reply
    The uk is the most corrupt place in Europe
  • TRUTH TELLER (09/03/2026, 14:00) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    The British Virgin Islands is definitely corrupted, and as time goes by, will becomes more corrupt, if we the people fail to return to Godly moral standard of "Do to others as you would have them do to you." and "Love your neighbors as you love yourself,", that is, if you you knew what love is in the first place. Most of the people in this world don't know, including the Premier of the British Virgin Islands, because had he knew, he would agreed that the B.V.I norms is very corrupted by majority practices, political included, spiritual by large cannot be excluded.
  • Concerned citizen 3 (09/03/2026, 14:09) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    The police corrupt. People know whats going on.
  • TRUTH TELLER (09/03/2026, 14:10) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sin being practiced by people corrupted people inwardly and outwardly before it damage other people both inwardly and outwardly
  • lord o. (09/03/2026, 14:22) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    When did it stop.?
  • Anonymous (09/03/2026, 14:46) Like (3) Dislike (17) Reply
    No we are not I agree with the premier
  • long time (09/03/2026, 16:27) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    GREENHOUSES
    • @Long time Here the Evidence. (10/03/2026, 07:35) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
      1/ Govt admin building unfinished 10 yrs after, Insurance money collected yet you paying your cronies and supporters rent.. 2/ Hospital has two empty floors yet you paying rent for hospital offices. Also why did you all blocked off Hospital parking lot, it was meant to be used as a parking lot and should be used as a parking lot find space for what you want to do....Those big increases that everyone agreed to no one objected..
  • politicians (09/03/2026, 18:31) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The great PEOPLE of the BVI are not corrupt, as usual it's the politicians. Scamming the public at every turn, giving themselves MASSIVE raises while the everyday person SUFFERS. However for a British politician especially this crazy Labor lot, to make that accusation is like the old adage " the pot calling the kettle black" as they are the epitome of corruption.
  • ausar (10/03/2026, 00:59) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    POT, CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK!

    I think Mr. Judas should look, firstly, in his own country, and then let all of us know, what the findings are, with regards to corruption!

    And, even if it were, that corruption exists, one would conclude, that we did learn, from Mama England!

    And what good child, would not want to follow the nuances, mores, and practices, of a good mama!!!!
  • self reflect (10/03/2026, 08:21) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    whoa there big wheat.

    dont forget andrew went on record saying the same thing prior to his big arrest in Miami!
  • Goku (10/03/2026, 11:21) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    "I dare them to name one person in BVI convicted of corruption"

    just because you weren't convicted doesn't mean you are completely innocent


    "the lack of evidence is not the evidence of absence" meaning (If police search a house and don’t find a weapon, that is a lack of evidence.

    But it does not prove the weapon never existed or that it wasn’t moved before the search.)



    I think that's why yall keep our DPP there despite all her loses cuz yall know them does lose serious cases very easily



    had they trial them in uk or usa by competent jurors and judges then they were gone long timeee


    imagine promoting anti police songs and songs about violence,drugs,fast life,partying and gangs at every event....then those same young adults will come selected as jurors to decide if a killer/drug man/ corrupted official should be found guilty or not.................. espcially on a small island where everyone knows everyone...related or not
  • Simple Advice (10/03/2026, 14:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Premier, you DON’T need to respond to everything. Every one is entitled to their own opinion and you certainly don’t have the power to change how someone feels or thinks. So, let Mr. Judas glory in his judgments.
  • guy hill (10/03/2026, 17:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    While Judas is at it, he should consider looking into and talking about the well-documented fact that the UK has struggled to deport several known terrorists and high-risk foreign nationals for years and most are still in the dam UK. Be brave cow boy
  • VIUK (12/03/2026, 08:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I welcome the Virgin Islands being incorporated with the UK.


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.