Sharon P. Flax-Brutus slammed for painting VG as being on 'the brink of collapse'



The response titled, ‘Noise, Nostalgia, and the Real Work Ahead’, outrightly said it was not a piece that seeks to “glorify the past, pander to outrage, or pretend that solutions are as easy as pointing fingers”, but instead, it was described as a think piece seeking to ask the uncomfortable question: “Is all the noise actually helping us move forward?”
VG painted as struggling with basic services
It indirectly accused the commentary by Mrs Flax-Brutus of having painted Virgin Gorda as a “place struggling with basic services” that is “on the brink of collapse”.
“While water and electricity challenges are real and urgent, framing these issues in a way that undermines the very interest (tourism) that should be protected is…questionable.”
In defence, The Silent Young Majority said the Minister of Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R4) recently outlined a national plan for water infrastructure.
“Millions have been unlocked to replace decades-old pipes, stop massive water losses, and expand desalination and distribution capacity. The reality is it’s not perfect, and it won’t happen overnight, but to speak as if there’s no urgency or direction is not only misleading, it’s unfair, especially to hardworking civil servants across all departments behind the scenes, constantly trying to keep up with the public demands and attitudes.”
Quick to complain
The author of the piece accused some of being quick to complain constantly and complain about the solutions.
“We griped for years about the terrible state of the roads, only to become frustrated when closures and traffic delays followed repairs. How did we get here? Similarly, we complained when electricity outages occurred for necessary maintenance, only to then raise concerns over workers conducting live-wire training. This back-and-forth is exhausting and hard to understand.”
It opined that it is easy to criticise and write rants on Facebook or craft poetic pieces and emotive opinions that “sound righteous but don’t offer real solutions”.
It offered that true leadership means doing more than reminiscing or rallying outrage, adding, some of the “loudest voices” of the day “have had opportunities to lead in the past”, leaving behind “little more than noise and nostalgia”.
It accused the rest of being “armchair critics with no real insight”.
Some wins go unnoticed
It added that in the midst of it all, some wins seem to go unnoticed.
“Like the lighting now installed on the way to North Sound, with rumours of 15 more in the pipeline. Or the creation of scenic views carved along the drive from North Sound to The Valley, simple touches that make our home even more beautiful. Or the success of the house-to-house garbage collection that’s quietly made life easier and streets cleaner. And let’s be real: Virgin Gorda doesn’t just appeal to tourists, locals love it too. People from Tortola often comment that the streets feel cleaner, the community tighter, and the island looked after. There’s pride in that.”
The piece added that the government is not a stone and made up of flawed individuals, much like the rest of us, and so if better is wanted, everyone needs to move beyond recycled outrage and engage consistently.
“No single administration can fix decades of issues overnight. We also need to step up. That means helping to create new tourism experiences, staying informed, and suggesting helpful policy changes and proposals that are not self-serving — ones focused on long-term impact, not just short-term applause.”
VG still has value
In the midst of it all, ‘The Silent Young Majority’ said, the world has not stopped seeing the value in Virgin Gorda.
“Virgin Gorda was just ranked the 15th best island in the world by Travel + Leisure. In December 2022, Forbes named Virgin Gorda the only Caribbean island on its “23 Best Places to Travel in 2023” list.”
It continued that with all the accolades received and promises for improvement made, Virgin Gorda is not without problems, which means the foundation is still strong, if the will to build on it is genuine.
“Lastly, I want to encourage more young people to step up and participate in the community — to be bold, creative, and committed radicals. This is the future. So before we add to the noise, let’s ask: Are we moving forward, or are we just complaining in circles?”


27 Responses to “Sharon P. Flax-Brutus slammed for painting VG as being on 'the brink of collapse'”
What is more telling is the silence surrounding the minister who is actually responsible. It suggests a reluctance to criticize the representivite in any manner, adding credence to my assertion that this is subjective . Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve witnessed such selective scrutiny. In previous discussions around the challenges facing our health system, there was a similar hesitation to critically examine the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme—despite it being central to the issue. Instead this individual exploited a tragedy for cheap political points. but the public saw right throught . One thing can be certain with this individual , there will be no truth if does not align with an ability for personal benefit.
We are seeing a repeated pattern: difficult but necessary conversations are being sidestepped in favor of targeting more politically ‘safe’ individuals. This does little to advance meaningful dialogue or drive real solutions.
I hope Yates keep a close eye on you,School children say your hiring all your family & *&^%g up Mahoe bay.
1. It’s because Sharon took over, why the company is where it is today, and where do you see that Sharon is hiring her Family, and if that’s the case so what, I can see you are an expert of negativity, that’s why you working where you working now. Go and pay your water bill
The recent anonymous opinion titled “Noise, Nostalgia, and the Real Work Ahead” is a masterclass in missing the point. It positions Sharon P. Flax-Brutus’ commentary as a “rant” and “noise,” while ironically doing the very thing it critiques — writing emotionally to soothe rather than solve.
Let’s be clear:
Virgin Gorda is not “on the brink of collapse,” but it is struggling — with inconsistent water access, unreliable power, a lack of basic public infrastructure, and rising frustrations from residents and businesses alike. If acknowledging that reality makes one guilty of “noise,” then perhaps it’s the silence we should be questioning.
Sharon didn’t glorify the past. She challenged the present.
She reminded us that accountability is not an attack — it’s a responsibility. Leaders must be questioned. Decisions must be scrutinized. Progress is not only built through praise but through pressure. And sometimes, the ones asking uncomfortable questions are the ones who care the most.
The author praises “scenic views” and light poles while residents are filling buckets at midnight and rationing generator fuel. These so-called “small wins” may look nice in photos, but aesthetics are not a substitute for functional infrastructure. Let’s not confuse cosmetics with capacity.
To suggest that Sharon’s commentary undermines tourism is short-sighted. Visitors don’t come to Virgin Gorda expecting perfection — but they do expect honesty, hospitality, and basic amenities. Sugar-coating the truth to protect our image will backfire harder than any Facebook rant. Tourists don’t flee from the truth; they flee from discomfort, inconvenience, and mismanaged expectations.
It’s also worth noting that the phrase “armchair critics with no real insight” is a curious insult coming from an anonymous author unwilling to sign their name, while Sharon has consistently stood on the front lines of BVI’s tourism and policy arenas for decades — openly, accountably, and with proven results.
In times of challenge, we need clear eyes, not convenient narratives. We need people brave enough to call out what’s broken — not because they hate where we are, but because they believe in where we could be.
Sharon Flax-Brutus didn’t write out of nostalgia or noise. She wrote with purpose.
And for those who consider uncomfortable truths a threat to progress — maybe it’s not the truth that needs silencing. Maybe it’s the apathy.
But at least H Bay gets good water pressure as rest of valley lose pressure every day.
And the nasty sargassum visible and smelling to every tourist driving past with residents suffering headaches and brain fog. When 18 months ago gov promised in big public piece to implement booms at sea like Commercial Dive Service already went and did for OTHER Caribbean islands.
Actually, Virgin Gorda was listed as the 15th best in the Caribbean!!! If the Anonymous wants any credibility get your facts correct and put a name on your article .... like Ms Flax-Brutus has.https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/sharon-p-flax-brutus-slammed-for-painting-vg-as-being-on-the-brink-of-collapse
She is right.