Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

'We are wasting alot of time'- Hon Vanterpool on VI recovery - says territory should take UK deal amidst efforts to re-negotiate loan guarantee stipulations

'We are wasting alot of time'- Hon Vanterpool on VI recovery - says territory should take UK deal amidst efforts to re-negotiate loan guarantee stipulations

Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool says it is concerning that two years has elapsed since the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria, yet the territory is still short of executing its full recovery efforts.

At last night's September 11, 2019, third in a series of opposition-led community outreaches on the VI/UK relationship and other topics; this time at the Valarie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay on Tortola, Hon Vanterpool said he remains concerned about what impediments are preventing the territory from proceeding with its recovery.

'Proceed with recovery' - Hon Vanterpool

"Whatever [it is] taking us to not proceed with the full recovery that we should proceed with, I have concerns about it... I am not going to object to the Premier [Hon Andrew A. Fahie] and his team going to London to negotiate, I am not going to object to whatever changes they are attempting to make," he said.

However, while Mr Vanterpool raised no objections to Premier Fahie seeking to re-negotiate the stipulations of the UK Loan Guarantee for recovery funds, in conflicting views, he called the exercise a waste of time.

"I personally think we are wasting a lot of time, we should be getting on with the country's recovery but that is their prerogative," he said in reference to the 7 month old Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government. 

Premier Fahie has since reported that he has had productive meetings with the UK while calling it 'positive' with regards to advancing the cause of the Virgin Islands.

“Our constructive engagement with the United Kingdom will continue as we work to get the best for our Territory and the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Premier said in a statement.

Assessing the situation

Meanwhile, Hon Vanterpool questioned the position of the territory with regards to how resilient it is, if faced with another hurricane. "I would be very worried,' he said, especially for residents of low-lying areas while recounting the situation in the Bahamas.

"Stop the fussing and fighting, stop the re-negotiating and get on with fixing the country," he admonished the administration.

Hon Fahie in his drive to re-negotiate the stipulations of the UK Loan Guarantee had said the ratios in the 2012 Protocols for Effective Financial Management were set in different times, “since then we have had two catastrophic storms, as opposed to being offered grants, the territory is being offered Loan Guarantees.”

“I cannot as the leader of this country in good conscience, just sign off because I’m being bullied to sign off, knowing that the language is vague and it’s not precise,” the Premier said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
×