Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Sep 15, 2025

Local businesses must be main drivers of BVI’s economic progress

Local businesses must be main drivers of BVI’s economic progress

Premier and Minister for Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed that businesses and entrepreneurs within the territory must be the main drivers behind economic progress in the Virgin Islands as they have the wherewithal to sustain the economy.
Speaking at the Forge Builders Expo over the weekend, Dr Wheatley noted that business owners tend to have the ingenuity to execute tasks which can keep the territory’s economy afloat.

“We must depend on ourselves to create the business necessary to sustain our economy. It is not necessary for government officials to be able to come up with the ideas necessary to be able to drive the economy. What are you really going to do? That is really the responsibility of the people who have the ingenuity, the industriousness, the innovativeness to enable to manifest the ideas that have dwelled within your mind, and you are putting into practice,” the Finance Minister said.

Meanwhile, speaking on the turnout of the event, the Premier said he was impressed with the quality of business presentations and the portfolio they possess. He noted that the businesses in the territory have been doing a good job and he appreciated that they can let people know about the work they have done.

“Of course, I am familiar with a lot of these businesses, but I was not familiar with their full portfolio, and it is certainly impressive, and they are getting this type of exposure because sometimes we are not quite sure of the resources we have in our society. I have seen new businesses that started out two or three months ago,” Dr Wheatley said.

“I have no idea who they were before, and I have an opportunity to see them and in fact I have some projects coming up that would benefit them. I am grateful to be invited so I could familiarise myself with these businesses. I need these businesses to be given opportunities as a result of this type of exposure,” the Premier added.

The Finance Minister noted his government wants to unlock the potential of the business community in the Virgin Islands through an increased partnership with the government.

“We are going to facilitate, streamline, we are going to accommodate and of course, we recognise that the business community are the ones that create value in our economy. They create revenue for the government that pays our salaries, and bills and develop our infrastructure et cetera and these businesses create jobs, so the government does not have to employ everybody, and they create business opportunities for other people and provide a livelihood for them and successive generation. It is very important, and this is what we need,” Dr Wheatley said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
×