'There will always be critics'- Premier to Walwyn on UberSoca Cruise
Hon Walwyn argued that such spending reflects misplaced priorities amid the ongoing economic challenges faced by residents of the Virgin Islands.
The premier responded during a press conference on Friday, November 21, 2025, stating, “While the Leader of the Opposition has labeled this event as just another party and accused the government of squandering resources, the UberSoca Cruise confirms that entertainment tourism is a legitimate sector of our tourism industry. It can also provide an economic boost to the retail and wholesale sectors of our economy.”
The event attracted thousands of visitors to the Virgin Islands, highlighting the territory's emerging status as a hub for entertainment-driven tourism in the Caribbean.
Hon Wheatley continued, “Many vendors were able to benefit from this event. There will always be critics; nonetheless, we should all congratulate our talented entertainers.”
Vendors earned thousands of $$ 'in just a few hours'
In his public statement, Walwyn pointed out that while many citizens are struggling with rising living costs, unreliable public services, and limited social support, the government continues to allocate large sums of public funds to high-profile entertainment events.
The premier countered, “We should congratulate our businesses and vendors, including the pubs, for seizing the opportunity presented by the arrival of thousands of enthusiastic cruise-goers.”
He added, “We had vendors who earned thousands of dollars in just a few hours. Additionally, many UberSoca cruisers supported local restaurants, participated in tours, and expressed their intention to return to the territory.”
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25 Responses to “'There will always be critics'- Premier to Walwyn on UberSoca Cruise”
From "Psychology Today" (website):
"Not only do narcissists lack the ability to give and truly mean empathy, but they consistently blame others for their own mistakes and feelings."
Some will run up their mouths and don't care what they say. Some ah talk talk talk and they mouth full ah water.
There is not a Chief Minister or Premier elected in the BVI who was not dogged out from the left or right and in-between. You will be spoken of in the present and in future also. The usual idiom when people want to talk ." Good Natalio, Bad Natalio" And the dam beat goes on. People belly full still hungry. Wip wap.
Criticism is an essential component of the arts. In its absence, art degenerates. As a painter and sculptor, I am my own ruthless critic.
One of the region's leading playwrights once told me that to counter fawning press reviews of his work, he started submitting his own under a pseudonym. Invariably editors refused to publish for fear of insulting the playwright.
Calypso is the only Caribbean art form that. for the most part, is free from these restraints. Hence it flourishes.
Just do it