'They are selling us out for a few pieces of gold or silver’- Shereen D. Flax-Charles
Speaking at the Ninth District Community Meeting at the St Mary’s Episcopal Church Hall on Monday evening, August 31, 2026, Flax-Charles warned that closing natural landmarks for private interests sets a dangerous precedent for the entire territory.
Flax-Charles, who is the sister of former Director of Tourism Sharon P. Flax-Brutus, cautioned that the monetisation and exclusion of local public sites would quickly spread beyond Virgin Gorda to sister islands if left unchecked.
“I said to somebody in Anegada, ‘Are they going to come and get you guys that you cannot go to the Conch Mounds today because we have a cruise ship coming in and they have bought us out?’” Flax-Charles questioned.
Addressing financial justifications put forward for the proposed restrictions, Flax-Charles strongly rejected accepting monetary payouts at the expense of public access and heritage rights.
She questioned the government's budget
“They are selling us out for a few pieces of gold or silver—30 pieces of silver—and in this case, they are trying to wave $450,000 in our face.”
Flax-Charles further questioned the national government budget. “What is the government’s budget? We need to fight and make sure it doesn’t happen.”
The tourism professional issued an uncompromising call for civil action if official negotiations fail to protect local access to the national park.
“Let me tell everybody in this room: You all better be prepared. If it does not go the way that we need it to go, that it’s not going to be four of us going down to the town to protest,” Flax-Charles declared. “We need 4,000.”
She added, “This is not a fight about The Baths. It’s not a fight about Virgin Gorda,” she concluded. “It’s a fight about the entire Virgin Islands.”
It should be noted that the Ninth District Representative Hon Vincent O. Wheatley is against restrictions to The Baths and Devil's Bay, and it is also a position he has expressed years ago.
D9 Representative in solidarity with concerned residents
Hon Wheatley has also publicly expressed solidarity with the concerned persons.
Similarly, Deputy Premier Hon Julian Fraser, RA, is also not in favour of any agreement to restrict public access to The Baths and beaches in the Virgin Islands.
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5 Responses to “'They are selling us out for a few pieces of gold or silver’- Shereen D. Flax-Charles ”
You also sat in TB and was privy to many proposals and discussions on these cruise tourists and the companies wants. Why are you politicizing this when the district rep and the subject minister both have publicly stated they are against it. You of all people should know and respect processes and realize that it has not reached the cabinet yet for final approvals!!
GTFOH with your pandering to try to drum up support for you and your sister in the upcoming general elections!! Set of setty fowls!
It’s impossible to be the problem and the solution. All this is happens under the VIPs watch.
You can’t hide your hand, while framing it as if it’s being forced on the people. It’s the very same government that’s responsible for this issue.
Let them tell it, they’re clueless who’s in charge when it comes to answers.
Are we really serious! Everyday Sharon working hard, selling beachfront land on Virgin Gorda as a Sotheby Real Estate agent! Land that you, as a BV Islander can't even access and if you do, them owners chasing you off the land! This woman love rubbing shoulders with the rich and elite and acting like she don't "do do!" People wake up!
You know how diabolical it is for you to be selling off VG, while advocating for resident access to all of the BVI? VG have an issue now, so it's "is a fight for the entire Virgin Islands!"
Tola and Jost Van Dyke ain't studying you! Them ain't have no running water for how long, yet you and your sister quiet!
Keep Anegada out your mouth! Tis you was the Director of Tourism when Branson wanted the same conch shell for himself and when the meeting was held, tis run them run him off Anegada! Anegada ain't got them land for over a century,, upto now, you and your sister have yet to open ayo mouth and fight for it!
Talking about entire Virgin Islands! Pure talk!