Wheatley Defends Long Look Facility
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has defended plans for a senior facility in Long Look after residents raised concerns about property values, security and planning procedures. He said the project has been discussed publicly for years, will be professionally managed, and that the government will continue engaging the community before moving forward.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has moved to reassure Long Look residents about a proposed senior facility, saying the project has been discussed openly for years and will continue to be shaped through dialogue with the community. Speaking after a community meeting, Dr Wheatley said the government acquired land in Long Look to develop accommodation and support services for elderly and vulnerable residents.
He stressed the development is intended to help vulnerable members of society and will be run as a managed facility under professional oversight. 'So I'm going to continue a dialogue with the community because this is being done on behalf of the community. And the community must be pleased with what is taking place,' the Premier told residents, underscoring the government’s commitment to public engagement.
Dr Wheatley rejected suggestions that residents were unaware of the project, noting the plan dates back to his first term in office and has been discussed at public meetings and during election campaigns. 'This project has been happening since my first term in office. I've had many public information campaigns speaking about this project,' he said.
The Premier acknowledged objections have surfaced at what he described as an advanced stage of planning and questioned the motives behind late opposition. He also recognised the concerns residents raised during the meeting, including potential impacts on property values, security arrangements, the anticipated profile of residents at the facility, and whether proper planning procedures were followed.
Community activist Amberly Crabbe had criticised the proposal in a social media post, prompting part of the public debate. Dr Wheatley said he respected Crabbe’s commitment to the area and expressed hope the issue would not become politicised. The government says the facility will provide both accommodation and support services and emphasised that it will be professionally managed rather than an unsupervised residence.
Dr Wheatley said he had used the meeting to 'educate persons and inform them that this facility would be a managed facility, not a facility where persons are just left to their own to cause challenges to their neighbours.' Looking ahead, the Premier reiterated that engagement with Long Look residents will continue and that the project will remain subject to further discussion and the relevant planning and regulatory processes.
For now, he said, the government aims to balance community concerns with the goal of providing services for vulnerable residents in the British Virgin Islands.
Primary source: BVI News