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VI Delegation Led by Premier Wheatley Attends COP28 to Advocate Climate Action
Premier and Minister responsible for Climate Change, Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley, is spearheading a three-member delegation representing the Virgin Islands at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai.
COP, an annual gathering, provides a platform for nations party to the UNFCCC to collaboratively assess and agree on measures to mitigate climate change and support the most vulnerable countries, particularly small island developing states, in adapting to its impacts.
Accompanying Premier Wheatley are Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent Wheatley; Climate Change officer in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Ms. Angela Burnett Penn; and the Acting United Kingdom/European Union Representative, Ms. Tracy Bradshaw.
The delegation will join representatives from other overseas territories and countries worldwide in discussions from November 30 to December 12. The outcomes of this year’s COP are crucial in determining whether the global community can achieve the critical target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a threshold recognized as the limit for the survival of small islands.
A primary focus for the Virgin Islands delegation is advocating for formal recognition of the VI and other Overseas Territories (OTs) under the Convention. This recognition is seen as pivotal for accessing international climate finance to bolster local initiatives for climate resilience and the transition to renewable energy.
Premier Wheatley, alongside counterparts from other British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, will take a lead role in a side event hosted by the Virgin Islands at COP28 through the CARICOM pavilion in collaboration with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission. The event will explore the case for OTs accessing international climate finance within the context of being members/associate members of the OECS and CARICOM.
The VI delegation will also engage in bilateral meetings, attend side events, and showcase multimedia products aimed at attracting international donors to the Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund. Additionally, the team will seek investments in renewable energy initiatives and explore opportunities for the Territory to participate in the international carbon credits market.
The Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean are already grappling with the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, heat waves, coral bleaching, stronger hurricanes, floods, droughts, sargassum blooms, and coastal erosion. Adapting to these changes requires significant investments in environmental protection, ecosystem restoration, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Simultaneously, the Government of the Virgin Islands is actively working to enhance the Territory’s resilience and reduce its carbon footprint. Initiatives include updating and implementing the Virgin Islands Climate Change Adaptation Policy and striving to replace 30% of the national electricity supply with renewable energy.
Premier Wheatley, in an earlier interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), emphasized the need for nations contributing heavily to greenhouse gas emissions to be ambitious in meeting targets to counteract the adverse effects of climate change. He underscored the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for global action.
The Government also remains committed to operationalizing The Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund, established as an independent entity in March 2015. The Fund is mandated to raise, manage, and disburse donor funds to support climate change adaptation and mitigation in line with the Climate Change Policy.
Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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