Gov’t injects millions and prepares grants for
Premier Dr the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley has told the House of Assembly that a new Agriculture and Fisheries Grant Policy is expected to be approved and disbursements started by the end of the year, while the 2026 budget sets aside millions to back infrastructure and land acquisition for the sectors. The policy remains before Cabinet for final sign-off (JTV), and a government press briefing detailed specific budget allocations including nearly $2 million for a reservoir and agricultural complex, $1 million for land purchase, $300,000 for grants to fishers and farmers, and $400,000 for a new fishing complex (BVI News).
Wheatley told the House of Assembly on Thursday, November 6 that the Virgin Islands Government expects to approve and begin disbursing grants under a new Agriculture and Fisheries Grant Policy by the end of the year, although the policy is still before Cabinet for final sign-off (JTV).
According to the Premier, the policy is designed to deliver direct financial support to farmers and fishers across the territory as part of a broader push to modernise and sustain local food production. "We are committed to supporting those who grow and harvest the food that sustains our people," Dr Wheatley said, stressing the initiative's role in strengthening long-term sustainability and reducing dependence on imports (JTV).
Alongside the grant policy, the government has been advancing complementary infrastructure plans. Designs for an agricultural complex and a reservoir at Paraquita Bay — aimed at providing a reliable water supply for farming and improving post-harvest handling — are nearing completion, the Premier told legislators (JTV).
These projects are intended to address persistent challenges for growers, particularly water availability, that limit local production capacity. New details from a subsequent government press briefing and coverage by BVI News set out specific funding in the 2026 budget to support these plans.
The 2026 budget, the largest in the territory's history at more than $550 million with projected revenues of over $446 million, includes nearly $2 million for the Paraquita Bay reservoir and the agricultural complex, $1 million allocated to purchase additional land for farming, $300,000 earmarked for grants to fishers and farmers to be distributed by year-end, and $400,000 for the construction of a new fishing complex at Baughers Bay (BVI News).
Throughout the year the administration has rolled out capacity-building initiatives for farmers and fishers focused on business management, safety, and sustainability practices. Officials say the grant programme will work alongside training efforts to improve producers' ability to run viable enterprises, meet safety and quality standards, and access new markets within the territory (JTV).
For BVI residents, the combined policy and budget measures aim at two practical priorities: boosting local food security and supporting livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries. Greater local production can lower reliance on imported foods, help stabilise prices, and increase resilience to supply-chain disruptions and extreme weather events that affect shipping.
Next steps remain a Cabinet decision on the grant policy and the administrative setup for disbursements. While the Premier has indicated budget provisions and a target to distribute $300,000 in grants by year-end, the policy framework and disbursement procedures must be finalised before payments begin.
Farmers, fishers and related stakeholders should watch for official notices from the Ministry responsible for agriculture and fisheries about eligibility, application procedures, and timelines as the government moves to roll out the programme and implement the new infrastructure projects (JTV; BVI News).
Primary source: JTV