Opposition Member Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) said the permanency of the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency should also mean that a lot of projects that are being done by government ministries should be done by the RDA. Photo: RDA

Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) during the Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands, which began on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Photo: YouTube/HoA

Walwyn said this while contributing to the debate on the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill during the Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands, which began on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

The Bill would transform the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) from a temporary body into a permanent agency responsible for delivering major development and infrastructure projects across the territory.

“I agree with the sentiments of the Premier and the Deputy Premier who spoke before me, that all things considered, I think that the RDA has a good job,” Walwyn said. 

Hon Walwyn said the RDA also did a good job in terms of recruitment, singling out RDA Chief Executive Officer Anthony S. McMaster. “I’ve always had confidence in his ability from the time we were children growing up, and he has grown into a very fine young man, and I know he is doing a very good job at the agency.”

RDA should be doing projects done by ministries

Walwyn said, however, that he wants to see the RDA, following the passing of the Bill, go further, explaining that, in his opinion, the RDA gets projects the government doesn’t want to deal with. 

“It has to be looked at in a different light than that. The permanency of the RDA should also mean that a lot of projects that are being done by government ministries should be done by the RDA.”

The RDA, he said, is set up with “experts” and should be used more, except for the Ministry of Communications and Works, which is responsible for infrastructure. 

“The other ministries need to use the RDA to carry out projects so that they can focus on their primary responsibility. Why is Health carrying out projects? They got people with cancer; they got all that sickness going on. Your ministry is supposed to be concentrating on its primary responsibility…Why is education building schools and doing all those things?… You have Education Policies you have to implement.”

He challenged Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) to utilise the RDA more, which will make things easier for ministers and their staff.