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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. 

15 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 (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    And she said all that under other business, WOW WOW WOW
  • POPE (02/08/2025, 15:50) Like (2) Dislike (6) 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 (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    We all know Walwyn has no credibility it’s clear to all hon Decastro has out do him
  • BuzzBvi (02/08/2025, 17:01) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    But it is no where to be seen. All gone to priority pockets.
  • LOL (02/08/2025, 17:11) Like (8) Dislike (2) 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 (0) Dislike (0) 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 (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    Now that type of investment is what we call ACTION!
  • Personally speaking (02/08/2025, 17:24) Like (14) Dislike (3) 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 (8) 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 (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yet you have far less results. You should be shame.
  • BRAD BOYNES (02/08/2025, 18:42) Like (6) 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 (0) 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 (0) Dislike (0) 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 (0) 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 (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    VIP is a tit for tat government.


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