'I'm guilty as charged' for investing in youth- Premier Wheatley
During a press conference on August 14, 2025, the embattled Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6), accused the Premier of being the “Party Premier” who spends a lot on parties and “indulgencies”.
These, he said, include $300,000 for the upcoming UberSoca Cruise and over $200,000 to send the Virgin Islands’ (VI) delegation to Barbados for Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA).
One reporter asked Premier Wheatley at a press conference on Monday, August 18, 2025, to respond to Hon Walwyn’s accusations.
“Guilty as charged” if spending on the youth
The Premier said, “If my crime is sending all of the young people that you see here, giving them opportunities for exposure at the Caribbean Festival for the Arts, then I’m guilty as charged. That’s something that I’m proud of.”
He said he has been to the biennial CARIFESTA and knows its impact on the youth.
“We’ve had persons who went to CARIFESTA in 2019, and I’ve just seen them blossom and grow in the Arts, and I’m sure that experience was important to them.”
CARIFESTA XV is being held in Barbados from August 22 to 31, 2025, under the theme ‘Caribbean Roots, Global Excellence’.
The VI delegation for CARIFESTA XV was announced during Monday’s press conference.
UberSoca Cruise markets VI to a different demographic
Premier Wheatley added that he sees the UberSoca Cruise as an important investment as well.
“It’s really marketing to a different demographic that we’ve been marketing before; persons in the region.”
The 2025 UberSoca Cruise, dubbed the world’s largest Soca festival at sea, will be held from November 15 to 22, 2025. Tortola will be the cruise’s first stop.
The cruise, Premier Wheatley said, is supported by many people in the region.
“They come, they spend money in your jurisdiction, they provide great exposure to the jurisdiction, and I think also that is an investment that will have great dividends for the Territory.”
There’s always been music festivals
The Premier also accused the Opposition Leader of using this “Party Premier” line as part of the strategy.
“Let’s look at the facts. As it pertains to how much money we’ve put into festivals, they’ve put way more money before than now. They had maybe ten music festivals before I became the Premier. All of that is rhetoric, that’s tools to manipulate persons' perception.”
He asked the public to be real and true about the facts, to conduct their research, which will show them that he is doing nothing different.
“There’s always been music festivals, there’s always been investment in the Arts, and I am an artist myself, and I believe in the Arts.”
Premier Wheatley continued that he believes in the VI’s promoters, musicians, graphic artists, and all those involved in the Arts in one way or another.
“I believe in them and will invest in them.”
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6 Responses to “'I'm guilty as charged' for investing in youth- Premier Wheatley ”
AND WHEREAS the Premier in his capacity as Minister for Tourism has failed to produce a Tourism Plan to safeguard and enhance our tourism market share despite repeated calls to do so by industry stakeholders and Members of the Opposition.
AND WHEREAS education has been the driving force for the success of this Territory and its people, but this important sector remains severely unfunded by the Minister of Finance and receives far more funding assistance from the private sector than it currently receives from the Government.
AND WHEREAS unemployment in the Territory is extremely high, particularly among young people, and the Government has failed to address this issue in a sustainable way despite numerous requests from the public and Members of the Opposition to do so.
Yes, you are guilty, in my opinion too.
When you first approached the people of the B.V.I and asked their trust (votes) you meant from age 18 to the oldest, not only the youths. You promised to represent all, if elected to power. Now you are the Premier, for years ongoing. Are representing all? No. You are not. God knows that. The devils know that. We the people know that, including them that are bigly, benefitting financially. Those that living among know that. Many tourists that visited know that, too. But you are falsely pretending you are ignorant that you know. That. The more you try to justify your doings, and not doing is the more you exposing your selfish behavior openly to us, and others. Truth healing medicine is greatest treasure for sure. It will improve more that the lagging infrastructure of the B.V.I, but more so that the continuing downward of human existence in an needed area of life. Amen.