Premier rejects suggestion to have ‘Zoom’ talks with UK officials

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has firmly rejected the suggestion that he should hold diplomatic talks with United Kingdom (UK) officials via video conferencing platforms such as Zoom.

The issue arose during a recent press briefing when Dr Wheatley was pressed about the cost and value of the trip to the BVI and quizzed over why meetings could not have been conducted virtually instead. The Premier defended the necessity of face-to-face discussions in diplomacy and emphasised the significance of personal engagement. “You want us to meet with the new OT Minister on Zoom? I’m not quite sure how much you understand diplomacy and how it works, but certain meetings are held face-to-face,” the Premier stated.

He then highlighted that many international leaders conduct critical meetings in person rather than online. The Premier pointed to high-profile discussions, noting how US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to the UK to meet leaders such as Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy and goes to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“They don’t have those meetings on Zoom,” he stated while reinforcing that direct communication is essential for effective diplomacy. This was particularly true when engaging with the UK government, which serves as the administering power for the BVI.