Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving the road conditions across the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

The issues of water and sewerage infrastructure have been long standing in the Virgin Islands; however, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has been determined to get them resolved. Photo: GIS/File

Speaking during the Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on January 30, 2026, Hon Wheatley stated that their strategy for gaining power by going around with their cameras, taking a picture of every pothole is to cause the ‘’darkness’’, however the current virgin islands government strategy for empowering the people of the Virgin Islands is by lighting a candle. Photo: VINO/File

During the debate of the Virgin Islands Energy and Water Corporation Bill, 2026, at the Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on January 30, 2026, Hon Wheatley stated that their strategy for gaining power by going around with their cameras, taking a picture of every pothole is to cause the "darkness", however the current Virgin Islands government's strategy for empowering the people of the Virgin Islands is by lighting a candle.

Road conditions will be improved

Hon Wheatley assured Virgin Islanders that the road conditions will be improved stating that, "Yes, we have to fix it, just like we fixing the situation with water and sewerage, we gonna have to come up with something to ensure that we have a public works department or any other entity that would be able to do the road rehabilitation works and, the maintenance necessary to make sure that the roads remains motorable."

Although there have been some recent challenges with asphalt production, Premier Wheatley highlighted the efforts of the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5), to ensure that the government has access to asphalt.

We will overcome it 

Hon Wheatley said that "while other persons just seize on whatever challenge, whatever issue that you have, and try to use those things as a means of embarrassing the government or showing that we're not doing what we need to do, I can promise the people of the Virgin Islands, whenever we run into a challenge and a problem, we will solve it. We will overcome it."

He highlighted that the territory has a water problem and a sewage problem, but reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these issues.

He further stated, "We're not going to continue to kick those cans down the road. We're gonna address those challenges, so they will be done and dusted and solved."