Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley told senior public officers on Sept. 10 that the Virgin Islands is at a pivotal point in its development and urged greater collaboration within the public service to meet current challenges.
Speaking at the government’s mid-year review, attended by about 90 top officials including ministers, permanent secretaries and department heads, Wheatley said the territory is navigating “turbulent and challenging times” that require unity across government.
“We are here to strengthen the foundation of the Public Service as we support the territory to navigate the turbulent and challenging times in which we live,” Wheatley said. “These are critical times and a pivotal point in the development of the Virgin Islands. Each of you has a critical role to play, and it is important for everyone to be aligned.”
The review followed the passage of the Public Service Management Act, 2024, which provides the framework for the management of the public service. Under the law, permanent secretaries and department heads are required to perform their duties under the control and direction of ministers, consistent with the Constitution Order of 2007. The legislation also assigns ministers responsibility for setting performance goals and providing input into appraisals of permanent secretaries, who in turn carry out the same function with department heads.
“This means that there must be a strong and collaborative relationship between ministers and permanent secretaries,” Wheatley said.
The premier added that the mid-year review was intended to track progress since February and set the course for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, with the National Sustainable Development Plan serving as the roadmap. Adopted in 2022 and launched in 2023, the plan outlines six goals in health, education, economy, infrastructure, good governance and the environment.