Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), Leader of the Opposition, has thrown his support behind the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill that 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.Photo: Youtube

The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is now before the House of Assembly for consideration during the debate and Committee Stages. Photo: RDA

The Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr Natalio D. Wheatley, while moving the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for its second reading, said the legislation represents "the next stage in the evolution of one of The Virgin Islands' most important public institutions". Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Penn told the Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 that “I support the bill before us; I supported it in 2018 when it came before the House, I supported it in the Unity Government when we did a decision to transition to the Development Agency and I support it today because it is the right thing to do.”

He added, however, that there needs to be certainty and therefore, “it shouldn’t be on the whims and fancies of any administration.”

Evolution of RDA

The Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), while moving the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for its second reading, said the legislation represents "the next stage in the evolution of one of the Virgin Islands' most important public institutions". 

He added that this demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring that the territory's legislative framework keeps pace with its changing development priorities. While the Bill proposes renaming the Recovery and Development Agency as the Virgin Islands Development Agency (VIDA), the Premier emphasised that the legislation goes far beyond a name change. 

The premier stated that the new name reflects a broader transformation from an institution established primarily to coordinate recovery to one that will serve as a permanent partner in delivering the Territory's long-term development agenda.

RDA has managed $69.2 million in funding

Dr Wheatley reflected on the circumstances that led to the RDA’s creation in 2018 following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, noting that it had successfully coordinated the Territory's recovery while building a reputation for professionalism, technical expertise and accountability and therefore, since its establishment, the RDA has managed $69.2 million in funding, with more than 90 per cent of contracts having been awarded to local contractors, contributing to the development of local capacity.

Premier Wheatley highlighted the agency's achievements, including the redevelopment of six schools benefiting more than 1,900 students, repairs to five administration buildings, refurbishment of six police stations, rehabilitation of recreational and tourism facilities, improvements to the road network, installation of renewable energy systems, construction of water reservoirs, and procurement training for contractors and interns.

He said the Government believes the Agency's accumulated expertise should be preserved and expanded rather than dismantled. "The government has concluded that this institutional capacity should not be dismantled at the end of the recovery period. Instead, it should be preserved and redirected towards supporting the Territory's long-term development priorities," he added.

The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is now before the Committee Stage of the House of Assembly.