Premier to Deliver Territory Update
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley will deliver a State of the Territory Address on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park to outline progress and new initiatives. He says the speech will take a territory-wide, unifying approach and include first-time announcements on major projects including the airport expansion, education and health developments, and sewerage works for the east of Tortola.
Natalio Wheatley will present a State of the Territory Address on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, saying he will update residents on what he described as "marvellous progress" made across the Virgin Islands despite recent national challenges.
Wheatley acknowledged the territory has endured a difficult period — including the Commission of Inquiry, the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricane recovery — but added that government has nevertheless advanced significant projects. "It’s going to be excellent to update the people of the Virgin Islands on all the marvellous progress that we’ve made in recent years," he said.
The Premier said the address will take a "holistic, territory-wide approach," going beyond individual press statements to set out a broader vision and explain where the government is taking the territory. "Persons want to know what’s this journey about, what’s the vision, where we’re going.
So we’re going to tell them interesting things," he told Acting Director of Communications Kareem-Nelson Hull. Wheatley listed several key topics expected to feature in the address: the airport expansion, developments at Enid Scatliffe Primary School, works at Prospect Reef, the government’s Tourism Plan, the Ponce Health Sciences Medical School, and efforts to bring a sewerage system online in the east of Tortola.
Each item touches sectors that matter to residents — from education and health care to infrastructure, environment and the tourism-dependent economy. The Premier also said the address will include some announcements being made for the first time. "We have some stuff, I haven’t mentioned them here, but some exciting things that we’re going to announce in the address as well," he said, and encouraged the public to tune in.
Wheatley wrote the speech himself, explaining the significance and singular opportunity of the 2026 address: "This speech is so important. I wanted to ensure that I was intricately involved in all the details because I wouldn’t get another opportunity to give this State of the Territory Address in 2026, so we have to ensure it is absolutely right." He stressed unity as a major theme, noting ongoing constitutional negotiations and calling the speech "a speech that pulls persons together, that’s going to unify persons and propel them forward." Residents are invited to attend in person at the park or follow the broadcast to hear the full update and any new initiatives announced by the government.
Primary source: VINO