Wheatley
Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley has warned residents against what he described as “garbage” being posted online, urging greater caution in how information about the Virgin Islands is shared publicly.
Wheatley made the remarks during a House of Assembly debate on the lifting of the Order in Council, where he reflected on the territory’s recent challenges and the importance of protecting its reputation.
He argued that some online commentary could undermine national interests and pointed to how other countries handle sensitive information.
“I think I’ve been following very closely the war in Iran, between Iran and Israel. And one of the things I realised is Israel has put a five-year prison term on anybody sharing any information about what’s happening inside Israel,” Wheatley said without offering any evidence.
“You know why? Because they have determined that that is not in the best interest of Israel for you to really know what is going on in there,” he added.
Wheatley continued that other countries also limit the spread of certain types of information, particularly where it could affect national image or stability. “A lot of countries do it too… The countries never talk about it and don’t let their people talk about it because it is not in the nation’s best interest that certain things be popularised,” he said
‘Close your door and whip your child’
Contrasting his claims with the local environment, he suggested that residents in the Virgin Islands often take a different approach to public discourse.
“But here at BVI, we’ve taken a different approach. The wisdom of our foreparents said close your door and whip your child,” Wheatley stated. “There’s some deep wisdom in that.”
“I see some people posting stuff, if your mother [knows], she’d beat you morning, noon and night, because she knows you know better… posting a bunch of garbage,” he said while urging residents to be careful about posting the territory’s dirty laundry in public.
“The things we say in this House, the things we put on social media, there are people out there, they are paid to look for it,” he added.
Wheatley said the territory must remain focused on protecting its progress and strengthening its institutions, noting that the BVI had endured several major challenges in recent years, including hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and governance reforms.
“This shows our determination to remain resilient in the face of adversity… our fortitude to rise above challenges and our wherewithal to build a stronger future,” he said.
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