The Premier’s $400M budget for 2024 tells a tale of two cities if we can fall back on Dickens’ book so named.  In the one city there is confirmation that BVI is experiencing slow but steady progress and we are returning to claim our share of the global economic pie. 

In the other city, the challenges we face are making it difficult for businesses to remain viable and for the individual to survive.  And if businesses falter the workers and their families will be severely impacted.

We see the proposal for increasing the wage bill from $0.33 cents on the dollar to $0.41 cents on the dollar.  We are glad that, finally, civil servants are being considered for an increase in wages for the cost of living in the Territory is astronomical.  However, we should be careful that the rising cost of living does not mirror or outstrip the increases thereby leaving the employee vulnerable.

Concurrently, the minimum wage is to be examined and we expect that, especially, small establishments will cry out.  Nevertheless, we must figure out the balance between work and wages so that the worker is, at least, able to afford the ‘basket of goods’ that would keep him/her alive.

We were amused to note from the Premier’s budget address all the reasons he considers for the fall of BVI from its prior, high economic plane.  Hurricanes, the COI, Covid etc.  but never a mention of 28 April 2022.

And, of course, the People’s House has still not seen it fit to talk about those events with a view to ensuring in, at least the formulation of policies, that BVI history does not repeat itself on those points.

So, while it is easy to point the finger, self-examination is a difficult.

Nevertheless, it was a beautiful sight to see scores of boats anchored in the North Sound during this week.  It was even better to witness that people were lounging, swimming, kite surfing or just going about their business having fun.

Restaurants are open, high-quality food is being served and the drinks are flowing.  And we celebrated thanksgiving this week.  It is not our holiday but it is important to those who put revenue in our businesses and so it is important to us.

Tourism keeps BVI moving.  We need the tourists to come.  Marketing is a must.  Every government in the subregion is out-marketing the BVI.  And because tourism is vital to their existence, they also invest very heavily in their tourism infrastructure.

We hope the Tourist Board has a healthy allocation of funds to market the BVI in 2024 because it takes money to make money.  And while we applaud the government’s efforts to cut its numbers by attrition, those being hurt the most are those on the front lines who are no longer able to keep up with the service demands of the public.

This may be an area in which the Premier and Finance Minister may be able to intervene.  The Standing Finance Committee exercise that is currently taking place gives him the opportunity to allocate extra funds to those areas that will help us to put even more revenue into the Treasury.

AG Chambers may be one such place.  They have brought the ship of state to a ‘no wake’ speed but one wonders if they are adequately resourced and remunerated for the job we expect them to do.

Fridays encourage us to consider all sides for we have a country to build.

Happy Friday!