Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has defended government spending on the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), insisting that the funds are an investment in the territory’s young people and cultural development.
The Premier’s response comes in the wake of Opposition concerns over additional spending, approved through a recent Schedule of Additional Provisions (SAP) in the House of Assembly, requesting $1.3 million in extra spending.
During a recent press conference announcing the official BVI delegation to CARIFESTA 15 in Barbados, Dr Wheatley rejected opposition claims that the government had wasted money on what was described as “parties and indulgences.”
“Well, if my crime is investing in the young people of the territory, all of the young people that you see here, giving them opportunities for exposure at the Caribbean Festival of the Arts, then I’m guilty as charged,” he told reporters.
He explained that young Virgin Islanders had previously blossomed after participating in previous festivals and said the experience gave them valuable exposure. “I’ve been to CARIFESTA, so I know the impact that CARIFESTA has on young persons,” he added. “We’ve had persons who went to CARIFESTA in 2019, and I’ve just seen them blossom and grow in the arts, and I’m sure that that experience was important to them.”
Critics have questioned the reported $219,000 cost of the trip to Barbados, pointing to other pressing needs in the territory. But Dr Wheatley argued that cultural investment plays a key role in the BVI’s identity and future.
“There’s always been music festivals. There’s always been investment in the arts. And I am an artist myself, and I believe in the arts. I believe in our promoters. I believe in our musicians. I believe in our, you know, whatever aspect of the arts, graphic designers. I believe in them, and I’m willing to invest in them,” he asserted.
Discussions in the House of Assembly have highlighted concerns about government priorities. Earlier this year, opposition members criticised what they described as excessive spending on entertainment while infrastructure, healthcare, and social support face persistent challenges.
CARIFESTA, however, is viewed by the government as both a cultural showcase and an opportunity for youth development, with the delegation including 13 students and a wide mix of artists across music, dance, theatre, and the visual arts.
Defending the expenditure, the Premier said the event also serves as international marketing for the territory.
“Persons in the region… come, they spend money in your jurisdiction. They provide great exposure to the jurisdiction. And I think that’s also an investment that will have great dividends for the territory,” he explained.
The BVI delegation of more than 50 participants is expected to join thousands from across the Caribbean in Barbados for the two-week festival, which celebrates the region’s art, music, literature, and cultural heritage.
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