Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), right, speaks with Communications Director Karia J. Christopher following his bilateral meeting with the UK government in London on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Photo: GIS

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said his meeting with the United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Overseas Territories Hon Stephen J. Doughty has resulted in some positive results for the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: GIS

Premier Wheatley spoke with Communications Director Karia J. Christopher following his bilateral meeting with the UK government in London on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

"It’s been a great day thus far, Karia. We started the day with our bilateral meeting with the United Kingdom government Stephen Doughty, discussing things which are very important to the BVI, such as the airport, such as our constitutional reforms, such as law enforcement and security, and the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, and that meeting resulted in some good outcomes for the BVI," Premier Wheatley said, without going into specifics.

The Premier added that the Virgin Islands is having a challenge with "fiscal space" because of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, and it hopes to have the protocols relaxed so funding can be sourced to "invest in more youth programmes to deter them from criminal activity" as well as strengthening the law enforcement capability.

"I believe that Minister Doughty will be very supportive in helping us, assisting us, in getting the fiscal space necessary to invest in these important areas."

Dr Wheatley also shared that he felt the discussion on the airport development in the Virgin Islands was a positive one, "and we know that they’re very supportive of the airport development, and we expect for that project to be kicking off in 2026."

Protocols for Effective Financial Management

Premier Wheatly noted that the restrictions of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management are also experienced by the other Overseas Territories (OTs), "and we have to make sure we follow those protocols, especially financial protocols."

He said the relaxing of the protocols would also assist the VI to "move faster and lessen the frustrations of the vendors at home."

The Virgin Islands Premier said his government understands; however, that the United Kingdom is very much concerned about contingent liability.

"Because anything that goes wrong, it’s a contingent liability on the BVI government and therefore a contingent liability on the UK Treasury, and we understand that the UK is going through a difficult time...it’s a difficult time for them, and they don’t want to take on any extra burden, but our goal is to strengthen our economy and that’s what the airport will do for us, so that we become less of a contingent liability, more financially robust. We’re investing in economic growth, and that’s ultimately a great thing for the United Kingdom."

The Protocols for Effective Financial Management was signed between the governments of the UK and VI on April 23, 2012.

See related article below:

VI to discuss borrowing protocols with UK to come out of 'fiscal straitjacket'