Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation Mr Emery C. Pemberton said the National Sustainable Development Plan makes provision for public-private sector collaboration to manage the marine space in the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: YouTube

A National Sustainable Development Plan was held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Photo: YouTube

Presenting during the Marine Industry Forum on Tuesday, August 19, 2026, Pemberton said the ministry is now in the process of applying and integrating the National Sustainable Development Plan. 

“The national plan is a 15-year road map with six national goals, and which transitions into three-year cycles, and it's not a government-only document…The plan explicitly states that public-private collaboration for managing a marine space is not implied. It’s written so it's there in the plan.”

Marine tourism sits where two sector strategies meet

The VI, he said, with reef assets of over 30,000 acres, is a large ocean state. 

“Marine tourism sits exactly where two of our sector strategies meet, which is marine and fisheries and tourism and hospitality. This is not a niche case. This is an overlap, but it's very specific.”

The national plan is a 15-year road map with six national goals, and transitions into three-year cycles. 

“The strategy speaks to increasing local participation in the blue economy and marine tourism, and is named right within the plan.”

Data is important 

Some of the targets listed in the plan are increasing partnerships in the place to address coral bleaching alongside mangrove and salt pond restoration; conserving investments and sustainable practices to maintain the tourism side and local sourcing for employment; and understanding that coral and coral protection is important. 

“Also very important is data partnership. We need to have data. Not just because we want to regulate the industry, but because when we're formulating policies, if we do not have data, then it basically is not a reflection of the industry. It's not exact. It's not precise.”

Data, he continued, is necessary to understand the implications of how the economy is being affected as policies are developed. 

The plan will run up to 2030, with Pemberton saying, “We are continually working within this range.”