Bad bargain? Virgin Islanders still need visa to Guyana

Virgin Islanders still need a visa to travel to Guyana, despite the British Virgin Islands (BVI) lifting visa restrictions for Guyanese nationals in November 2024. This was highlighted in the 2025 Standing Finance Report, which noted that Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley is working to address the issue.

During Standing Finance Committee (SFC) meetings, where House of Assembly members convened with heads of government departments and statutory bodies, Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn questioned why the Wheatley administration did not ensure reciprocity when removing visa requirements for Guyanese nationals. Questioning why the government didn’t negotiate reciprocal arrangements, Penn said one-sided visa deal is a concern for Virgin Islanders and criticised the government for not making the issue public.

In response, Premier Wheatley stated that he had already contacted Guyana’s President to discuss the matter. He suggested that Guyana may have imposed visa restrictions on Virgin Islanders in response to the BVI’s earlier decision to require visas for Guyanese nationals. Wheatley also emphasised the importance of travellers verifying visa requirements before making travel plans. He added that a decision on whether to publicly address the matter would be made following further consultation.