'Permanent amphitheatre' aback admin complex under consideration- Premier
The announcement was made by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) during his Territorial Address on May 20, 2025, at Maria's By the Sea.
According to Dr Wheatley, the Government is eyeing the area behind the Ralph T. O'Neal Administration Building in Road Town as a strategic space for a dedicated event venue. "We envision the space behind the Administration Building as an event venue and have already witnessed successful events there that generated considerable economic activity.”
He said that the administration is actively considering a multipurpose design for the site, including potential usage for cultural festivals, public events, and cruise tourism activities. "Consideration for its multi-use for festivals, events and hosting activities for cruise tourism is being explored, along with creating a permanent amphitheatre.”
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue for entertainment, performances, and sports, often with sloping seating around the central stage.
According to the Premier, "Over the past year, my Government has implemented plans to diversify the visitor experience and increase the economic participation of Virgin Islanders in the tourism sector by placing greater emphasis on cultural events and activities.”
The spacious area behind the Ralph T O'Neal Administration Complex has been the venue for several stage shows, including the return of the Virgin Islands Music Festival in 2024 and the Black on Black Concert featuring Vybz Kartel on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
The CARILEC Lineworkers Rodeo was also held there on April 27, 2025.
Delineation of Roles
Premier Wheatley prefaced the announcement, arguing, “...a new vision and plan for tourism requires a new legislative and organisational support structure to drive its development.”
To that end, he referenced the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Tourism (MOT) over the past year—a move he said was essential to ensuring greater efficiency and clearer delineation of roles within the sector.
"That is why my Government established a Ministry of Tourism and began staffing it over the past year; The MOT will now be responsible for the management and development of the industry, and the Tourism Board will be responsible for its marketing and the visitor experience."
The new structure, he said, “...will allow the development of tourism as a stronger economic pillar and revenue driver; creating an enabling environment to significantly increase tourism’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Virgin Islands by facilitating the integration of other sectors of the economy into the tourism sector.”
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