Great Thatch Becomes 22nd National Park
Great Thatch Island has been formally handed to the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands (NPTVI), becoming the Territory’s 22nd national park after a purchase first initiated in 1997. The handover, announced by Deputy Premier Kye Rymer-Fraser at Long Bay Beach Resort, closes a decades-long promise and launches plans for archaeological study, conservation and public interpretation of the island’s layered history.
The ship of state may move slowly, but on Wednesday evening the government briefly anchored to deliver on a long-standing pledge: Great Thatch Island has been handed over to the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands (NPTVI) and designated as the Territory’s 22nd national park.
Deputy Premier Kye Rymer-Fraser led the presentation at Long Bay Beach Resort, joined by Honourable Lorna Smith, declaring the handover a milestone. "It demonstrates that this government remains committed to protecting our natural and cultural assets while investing in a sustainable future for all the people," he said.
The island’s transfer brings to a close a process first started in 1997 after the Executive Council declined a Non-Belonger Land Holders Licence for private expatriate interests and moved to preserve Great Thatch for public benefit. The Crown had retained the island on its books for years; the Government purchased it from Mr.
Clifford Collier for $3,000,100.00 in cash. Officials note the transaction finally advanced after briefings and unanimous support from the 2025 Standing Finance Committee. Great Thatch joins a network that began 62 years ago when Sage Mountain was gifted by Laurance Rockefeller. The NPTVI now protects a diverse portfolio of land and seascapes for recreation, conservation and education for present and future generations.
Angel Smith provided historical context at the event, outlining Great Thatch’s role as a homestead and commercial enterprise reliant on enslaved labour. He recounted that, at emancipation in 1834, the island’s proprietors were compensated by the British Parliament for 106 enslaved people while those who had been enslaved received nothing.
Smith argued that BVI had effectively paid twice for the island—through uncompensated labour and later public funds—and urged that the site be used to confront that history honestly. The NPTVI says its immediate priorities include archaeological investigations to document occupation over time, fundraising for conservation and interpretation, and recreating elements of the island’s past to educate residents and visitors.
Officials emphasised that conserving Great Thatch is both an environmental and cultural project intended to deepen public understanding of more than four centuries of history. The evening also served as a reminder of local achievement beyond politics: Adaejah Hodge’s sprinting success was celebrated as evidence of individual excellence and the Territory’s potential, though questions remain about sustained financial support for athletes competing internationally.
For BVI residents, the handover of Great Thatch is a tangible example of promises fulfilled and an opportunity to preserve and examine the Territory’s natural and social history for future generations.
Primary source: Guavaberry