Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

$65M CDB loan spent!  Gov’t now seeks funding elsewhere

$65M CDB loan spent! Gov’t now seeks funding elsewhere

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley has signalled that the $65 million loan granted to the Virgin Islands by the Caribbean Development Bank has mostly been spent and there is no money left to begin any new projects.
In response to a question from the local media at a recent press conference, the Finance Minister said most of the projects from the $65 million loan have already been entrained, ongoing or completed. Hence, the government needs to get more funding to continue the territory’s post-Irma and Maria recovery.

When questioned whether the BVI is considering the £300 million loan guarantee offer from the United Kingdom to continue projects, the Premier said the government is not considering that amount at this time.

“We will have another loan, but it has to be a loan we can afford to service the debt for. So, it wouldn’t be as much as the 300 million because, of course, we would have to be able to service the debt through our annual budgeting process. So, once we have the details of it, we can announce to the public the size of the loan and of course, we will have to show how we will be able to service the debt of that loan and meet all our ongoing expectations,” the Finance Minister explained.

Dr Wheatley noted that the loan would not necessarily be from the United Kingdom, but the Virgin Islands certainly would need to have a conversation with the UK government on borrowing because there is an agreement between the territory and the UK and they must communicate as it relates to the BVI’s fiscal position.

“So, very soon we will be producing a revised medium fiscal plan. You will also notice that we will soon be going back to the House of Assembly to do what the Ministry of Finance is referring to as a revised mid-year budget. This is information that we regularly share with the United Kingdom on our finances,” Dr Wheatley said.

“You would be aware, of course, that we have the protocols for effective financial management which speaks to some of the ratios that we have to stay within, and we have discussions with the United Kingdom who monitors the ratio and monitors our economic performance,” the Premier said.

He noted that the BVI government always uses the opportunity to work together, co-operate and seek to solve challenges with the United Kingdom during these meeting on the territory’s financial position.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×