Premier’s budget numbers confused residents

Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton has claimed that Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s recent presentation of the 2025 budget estimates left residents puzzled and unclear about the territory’s financial direction.

Speaking on ZBVI radio, Skelton argued that the Premier’s approach overwhelmed listeners with complex figures rather than providing a clear vision for the future. Skelton expressed his concerns about the structure and length of the budget address, noting it lasted over two hours – a length he considered unprecedented for budget presentations in the territory. “I think that’s the first in the history of the BVI…we had a budget address that lasted so long,” Skelton shared. He suggested that the Premier’s statements would have been more appropriate in a ‘State of the Territory’ address, where broader topics are typically covered.

A significant part of Skelton’s critique focused on the budget’s composition, pointing out that substantial sums were attributed to recurrent expenditures. “$407 million of it is recurrent expenditure coming from different funds,” Skelton pointed out while noting that about $20 million came from different funds. He then suggested that those funds targeted recurring expenses like salaries incorrectly calculated in last year’s budget. According to Skelton, this focus on recurrent expenses might have confused residents, making it hard to determine the real priorities in the budget.