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VIP invested $16.9M more in Education than average NDP administration- Hon Sharie B. de Castro

The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government has invested $16.5 million more in education compared to the average spending of the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration, Minister for Education, Youth and Sports, Hon Sharie B. de Castro said. Photo: YouTube
The comparison as to how much more was spent on education by the Virgin Islands Party as compared to the previous National Democratic Party administration was made during the Continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Photo: YouTube
The comparison as to how much more was spent on education by the Virgin Islands Party as compared to the previous National Democratic Party administration was made during the Continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Photo: YouTube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government has invested $16.9 million more in education compared to the average spending of the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration.

“In 2025, this government has allocated $67.4 million to education, which is the highest in the history of the Virgin Islands. I want to clarify that in 2025, we, the Virgin Islands Party government, are investing $16.9 million more than the average amount allocated by the NDP administration,” Hon Sharie B de Castro (AL), Minister for Education, Youth and Sports, emphasised. 

She made this statement during the Continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

“I want to be clear that during the period from 2011 to 2018, the current leader of the opposition, who eloquently expressed a motion of no confidence regarding education, served as the Minister of Education at that time,” she said. 

Agriculture, Culture & Fisheries no longer part of the portfolio

Hon de Castro added that she no longer oversees culture, agriculture, and fisheries. 

“I have the full spreadsheet from that period and note that it was first the Ministry of Education and Culture, then the Ministry of Education, Agriculture, and Fisheries, and now solely the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports. Even with these portfolio removals, the budget from the NDP administration was $16.9 million,” she stated. 

The minister also noted that just in the last supplementary appropriation made on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the ministry negotiated an additional $1.5 million to support new programs and projects. Through this, some new initiatives are coming on stream.

“We are now spending $68.9 million this year on education, which means that the Virgin Islands Party government has spent an estimated $18.4 million more than the average expenditure of the National Democratic Party government,” Hon de Castro concluded. 

38 Responses to “VIP invested $16.9M more in Education than average NDP administration- Hon Sharie B. de Castro”

  • oUCH (02/08/2025, 15:29) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    And she said all that under other business, WOW WOW WOW
  • POPE (02/08/2025, 15:50) Like (6) Dislike (26) Reply
    Yes girl sock it to tall boy old devil he is let he go Antigua and run there
  • M Hill (02/08/2025, 16:53) Like (7) Dislike (23) Reply
    We all know Walwyn has no credibility it’s clear to all hon Decastro has out do him
    • @ Reply (03/08/2025, 06:58) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
      Some of these comments against the stellar performance of the Hon Decastro are such rubbish and it’s so clear where they are from!! we are no fool
    • Cindy (03/08/2025, 12:09) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Keep doing your work Ms. D we the students and others see it
  • BuzzBvi (02/08/2025, 17:01) Like (25) Dislike (5) Reply
    But it is no where to be seen. All gone to priority pockets.
  • LOL (02/08/2025, 17:11) Like (37) Dislike (4) Reply
    And you’re proud to get up and say that with the state of our educational system
    Wow
    Something gots to be in air because you should be ashamed but yet you’re talking like you accomplished something
    • @LOL (02/08/2025, 19:18) Like (2) Dislike (19) Reply
      Education in BVI id on its journey, as a parent of a child in secondary school i'm seeing some changes...
  • Citizen (02/08/2025, 17:16) Like (5) Dislike (19) Reply
    Now that type of investment is what we call ACTION!
  • Personally speaking (02/08/2025, 17:24) Like (35) Dislike (4) Reply
    This why I don't like these kinds articles of self praise. VIP this and NDP that.

    Yet as she got in try to eliminate Vists

    Yet runs education more like a dictator than a leader.

    Worse education minister ever.

    And she was/is an educator by profession.


    Don't have my respect
  • smh (02/08/2025, 17:58) Like (32) Dislike (2) Reply
    If you and your entourage every minute joy riding on the people's tax money everytime there's a robotic event etc etc. What do you expect?
  • smh (02/08/2025, 18:16) Like (27) Dislike (3) Reply
    Yet you have far less results. You should be shame.
    • @ SMH (03/08/2025, 12:15) Like (1) Dislike (8) Reply
      no one can name a thing Myron did but add an additional year yet he on here blogging piss...stay focus Sherie he can't stop you
  • BRAD BOYNES (02/08/2025, 18:42) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    What's with the comparison?. There is only one virgin islands. You all need to cut the /this crap out.
  • Countability (02/08/2025, 19:28) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the money being spent? Give us a break down ofthe improvements it is being use for
  • 2024 (02/08/2025, 19:35) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    who was the Minister responsible for Education Under the national dose of poison administration; asking for just two friends
  • same old (02/08/2025, 20:05) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    You young politicians need to mature up quite a bit. Get what you need to do done. Stop comparing yourselves with others who clearly did a better job than you did. You didn't add much with all those extra millions that you are spending. You didn't build too much on the foundation that you met. So why say it? Why think that it sounds good? Things are more expensive now and paying your damn rent and travelling alone accounts for most of this increase. So, of course you spend more in 2025 than the NDP did many, many years ago. Basic economics and finance know how will tell anybody that. So stop insulting our intelligence and do the best that you can for your country. We want to see you succeed just like we wanted to see any past Government succeed. Your success is a success for all of us. Stop being teenagers and comparing yourselves with others and get to work. This is childish bull shiggidy. You didn't answer the vote of no confidence so that Honourable Walwyn could answer you back but did so in Other Business because I guess you all wanted the last word. Now, I am not a fan of Hon. Walwyn, he needs to humble himself a whole lot before I can comfortably see him running this country. But let me say something and leave it here. Lots of people are still drinking your Kool Aid, yes, but every year with the nonsense and the lack of focus, on your part as a Government, on the needs of this country and its people, more and more voters are understanding that you all are just mouth champions and full of tactics. The H. Lavity Stoutt Government, if you want to compare spending, spent hundreds of thousands instead of hundreds of millions and they accomplished more than you all are doing. Why? Focus and fortitude, common sense and love for country peppered with a strong dose of futuristic thinking. And this was all in the 70s, 80s and 90s before Google or Internet. There are no excuses that we can accept from this performance that you young, brilliant, well-educated persons are giving. You see, as a people we always strived to jump higher and work harder. You are building a Virgin Islands for our/your children and grandchildren. Do the right thing. Take yourselves out of the equation about what you have done and comparison with others and look at the country and see what we need. Do good so that God can be in the midst and multiple it. Be good and decent and God fearing role models for our children. Please young people, do your very best and stop this foolishness. You owe it to the generations to come or they will struggle and frankly most won't survive. Build a BVI that we can all be proud of. Look at the foundation you met. They spent hundreds of thousands every year in a Budget and they accomplished Financial Services, Social Security, HLSCC, a hospital in the capital and clinics in each District, community centers, proper roads, public water running through our pipes and educated many on a University level. What have you added with your $2 billion in a 4-year span to build on that strong foundation you met? Sit down and think about that or just shut the hell up and go look for another job and leave us the hell alone. We are tired, tired, tired... So tired of this... So tired.
  • Silly (02/08/2025, 20:11) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    VIP is a tit for tat government.
  • Hope (02/08/2025, 22:42) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hopefully, each classroom both primary and secondary gets proper and enough desks and chairs for students. They need supplies for students and teachers.
  • One foo rooster (03/08/2025, 05:49) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    THIS LADY WAS ELECTED AT LARGE WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME SHE HELD A MITTING IN ANY OF THE DISTRICTS OH O FORGOT SHE CAN ONLY DO SO EOTH HER MOTHER'S CONCENT
    • The Commenter (03/08/2025, 21:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The at-large voting system has failed the BVI.

      Even the current opposition at-large reps are invisible to those who voted for them.
      • Rattler (04/08/2025, 20:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        What was the intent of the At Large system? Was the intent to provide a voter with 5 direct representatives( 1 district, 4 at large)? Does the electorate have a misunderstanding of the At Large system? Does the electorate needs to get engage?
  • He and his friends (03/08/2025, 06:40) Like (4) Dislike (17) Reply
    Myron could blog all he wants the fact is ms decastro is the hardest working minister and has turned education around and that’s a fact

    When she when there she had to clean up from both Myron and Showda she jamming and the results are felt across the bvi
  • Anonymous (03/08/2025, 06:56) Like (5) Dislike (10) Reply
    One thing I love about this education minister is she can list what was accomplished over her time in office. I think it’s a good outcome as both students, teachers and parents have agreed for it’s good moving forward as a team.
  • Stealth (03/08/2025, 10:40) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is not the quantity of money invested but the outcome. For example, the spend more per capita on education than other countries but get lesser outcome than other countries which have invested far less. Public investment on education should be based on national needs. Scholarship should be awarded on national needs. The VI is investing heavily in education but still have to import labor for some skills. It must be more targeted in its investment, focusing on its national needs. Its technical school should not be viewed as a remedial school but rather an institution that turns out valuable needed skills.
    • GateKeeper (04/08/2025, 03:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Stealth, well said. Which country spends more per capita than others ? I assumed you were referring to the US but it looked like it was inadvertently left out of the article. Concur that education investment should be driven by national needs. For example, there is a glut of lawyers but a dearth of other skills. The BVI must re-imagined its education program; it must look beyond the rational industrial academic mindset and skills, ie, doctors, lawyers, architect, engineers, etc. It should not escape us that we are in the Information Age.
  • confused (03/08/2025, 11:44) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    I just don’t get it. The Minister of education should realize that Health care and Education are two of the most important things in any country so money has to be spent. I just can’t understand why she’s making a comparison between the then NDP government and this present VIP government regarding the millions spent on education. Obviously, with the increase in the cost of living every where, prices would definitely increase and there would be a need for more money. I believe that we don’t need a rocket scientist to figure this out so why underestimate the intelligence of the people with this rhetoric? My humble advice is for the Minister to practice humility and stop from being so arrogant and boastful. The relevant question is ,if the quality of education today is any better compared to how it was then considering the increase in millions spent? Apart from STEAM and the introduction of robotics, everything else is the same including the sharing of PE teachers, music teachers, guidance counselors, etc. and so on. Let your focus be on building a first class education system and stop the comparisons. There is need for lots of improvement. Start to prioritize for the new school year.
  • Lb (03/08/2025, 12:17) Like (2) Dislike (10) Reply
    EDUCATION IS MOVING ON UP UNDER THIS MINISTER MORE THINGS FOR THE KIDS TO DO I LOVE THE ROBOTIC PROGRAMME
  • Really (03/08/2025, 12:23) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you're doing a good job, there is no need to brag. That is a hell of a lot more money than the NDP spent, but I am looking at the glass a little differently. You may say it is half full, but it is definitely half empty. Some of those millions were spent to knock down Althea Scatliffe Primary School. Some was spent to knock down Isabella Morris Primary School. The Cappoons Bay Primary School and the Ivan Dawson Primary School picked up the slack. No renovations done to their classrooms or structures. A rcent visit to the Cappoons Bay School evidenced that over the last 40 years, nothing has changed in that building, nothing. Hon. Fahie was Education Minister and District Rep and nothing. They still have the same exact classrooms and the same ugly, high stage in the front area. That is what the VIP Government is celebrating that they spend more money? Ivan Dawson is the very same. Same structure and same issues, including the stench from the Sewage plant next door. But oh, let me talk about Enis Adams, thank God for Enis Adams, but that was not Government millions spent there, was it? We have to think before we speak. We have book sense but common sense seems to have gone out the window. And then the Eselyn Henley Riche School which was so dire needed is certainly a bigger edifice than we thought it would be for 15 students. What are we spending this money on? It begs the question. What is it being spent on? So we have no audited accounts and you refuse to tell us how much your travel expenses are. Yes we listen. We hear you and see you. You guys need help. Unfortunately for us in this country, that help seems to have to come from more mature persons because you guys have not done enough living yet. You have the degrees, but life experience is lacking or you would be able to see that our future depends on your decisions, your good decisions. And your young voters are asleep as well. We need to start to send up prayers from now because we are losing our country and not slowly either. We are full speed heading for the cliff while you all, like the young niave people that you are, watch those who are speaking sense and think why they dare say things are not going well and you are doing your very best. Your best is not good enough so you have to sit down and rethink your strategy. Truly make a list of what other countries have that we need. Google the damn thing. No need to reinvent the wheel. Can we use a trade school? Was that as important as a medical school right now? Do we need to hurry up and fix the Complex? Hon. H.L. Stoutt built that with his vision for his country and people, a central area to do Government business. I have no idea where half of the Government offices are. What are your collective vision for this country or are you just flying by the seat of your pants or while dancing and partying and travelling and strategizing how to win the next election while we go to hell in a hand basket?
  • I wonder (03/08/2025, 15:54) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    What percentage of the education budget went into travelling and other minister-related expenses? Taxpayers still can't get proper answers from this ministry.
  • —————————— (03/08/2025, 17:51) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    You all need to stop with your jealousy!!!! education is in the best shape in many years

    We salute you Ms Decastro keep up your good works
  • The watchdog (03/08/2025, 18:41) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    If we are honest we will agree education and sports have come a long way under her leadership
  • Trump (04/08/2025, 17:46) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Myron and his bloggers view now trying to undermine sherry success are meaningless.
  • Really? (05/08/2025, 01:20) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Meanwhile the schools are overcrowded to the point that they do not have enough furniture for students and teachers, there is a persistent mold problem, copiers and printers are always breaking down, keeping toner and copier paper is a challenge, teachers have been given no resources for their classrooms except a pen and a marker, staff and students sometimes have to go the whole day without water and working toilets, etc. But yeah the government invested a lot in education. SMH
    • @ Really? (05/08/2025, 10:07) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      you haters will not stop process congratulations Ms. D for laying the facts on the table
  • Former Teacher (05/08/2025, 10:09) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    You should be ashamed to say this Ms Poem, the education is as washed as it has ever been, wake up and look around you! You have failed as a Minister, woman and Leader! Not one thing has improved since you have been placed there except your desire to say a poem in every speech you say!
    Roses are red, Violet is Black
    We the voters wish we could go back!
    • @ Former Teacher (05/08/2025, 18:49) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      Hate and Jealousy will kill you but get this after the 2027 elections she will be back as the Minsiter for Education now take that to the bank.

      She is doing a stiller Job the best we had in years


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