National Parks Not For Sale, NPT Assures
National Parks Trust Director Dr. Cassander P. Titley-O’Neal has addressed growing public concern, firmly stating that none of the territory's national parks are for sale. Her statement follows intense public backlash and political debate over a proposal to grant exclusive morning access at The Baths and Devil’s Bay to a luxury cruise line.
Director of the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands, Dr. Titley-O’Neal, has moved to quell public anxiety surrounding the management of the territory's natural heritage, declaring unequivocally that no national parks are up for sale. Titley-O’Neal sought to clear up circulating misinformation following widespread outrage over a proposal to grant an international luxury cruise line exclusive morning access to The Baths and Devil’s Bay National Parks on selected dates.
Addressing the rumors directly, she confirmed that none of the territory's 22 national parks are for sale, emphasizing that they never have been and never will be. The controversial proposal emerged as the National Parks Trust grapples with record-breaking tourism volume and escalating conservation expenses.
Official figures reveal that the Virgin Islands welcomed 612,263 visitors during the first quarter of 2026, marking a 24 percent increase over the same period in 2025. Cruise ship arrivals accounted for the vast majority of these numbers, totaling 493,397 passengers. The idea of granting exclusive access triggered swift pushback from community members, government officials, and members of the Trust itself.
Ninth District Representative and Minister for Health and Social Services, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, insisted that The Baths and Devil’s Bay must remain open and accessible to the public at all times. Flax-Charles and Lawrence Wheatley publicly distanced themselves from the initiative, stating they had no prior knowledge of any plans to allocate exclusive access periods to private entities.
Highlighting the deep historical and cultural value of these protected lands, Dr. Titley-O’Neal recalled the arduous compulsory acquisition process initiated by the House of Assembly in 1987 that eventually established The Baths as a national park in 1990. She emphasized that the Trust's mandate extends beyond park management to critical botanical research and the development of historical sites across the Virgin Islands.
Titley-O’Neal encouraged residents to follow the Trust's official channels for verified updates and announced plans to host public engagement sessions to showcase the ongoing work of the National Parks Trust.
Primary source: VINO