“Money doesn't make the man but the man isn't made without it.

In little under 180 minutes, the Premier told us on Tuesday that he hopes to collect about $408M in revenue in 2025.  It is our money that he collects on our behalf and we can have a wishlist on how it is spent.

Of course, we must bear in mind that at least 85% of the Territory’s fiscal commitments are set in stone.

I remember where I was when I read Sebastian Junger’s ‘The Perfect Storm,’ the anxiety and concern I felt for the people on that fishing boat and the terror that I lived, vicariously, as my anxiety deepened with the increasing wavelengths.

It did not help that Junger was relaying a true story, painted in graphic details; Man against the ferocity of the seas in a bid for survival.  

BVI is doing its best to survive.  It is an extremely complex Territory although, on the surface, it does not so appear.

We have increasing demands on a static budget.  And year after year we talk about diversifying the economy; about what happens to the government's income when rapacious organizations force us out of the financial services industry.

Even nature seems against us.  The constant rains are deepening the difficulty we have in maintaining roads and road verges.  But we know that the infrastructure is finally poised to be addressed.  The $100M loan approved by the House says so.

Of course, the streets are dug up and in a deplorable state; the storm before the calm!  Whoever heard about making an omelet without breaking eggs?

The Premier is proud of his tourism numbers.  He should be.  Tourism is the reason two thirds of the workforce leave their beds each morning.  It is our lifeblood.

At the moment, cruise tourism is driving his numbers.  Overnight outspends cruise by a margin of 10 to 1.  We want cruise but we need the overnight guests.

We can get the increase in overnight that we long for but it will take a little more than lip service.  The Tourism Board needs marketing dollars.  Their budget has been frozen for more than a decade if we discount the recent addition of festival and fairs to their portfolio.

But the act of creating a tourism ministry was a giant step forward.  It says that we are finally ready to bring focus to our breadbasket; A work in progress.

We read with interest, “Fodor’s No List 2025.”  The architect of the BVI story, we understand, made a living in BVI at one point.

The Territory has fed countless.  We have given, legion, social and professional significance.  A myriad have gotten wealthy on our shores.

Many who insinuate that they are paying all the taxes here could not pay taxes in their own countries because a meaningful job market and good wages were not available to them there.

We, and they, should be grateful that this beautiful and tranquil spot exists in the Caribbean Sea.

Yes, Fodor is correct, we do not have a tourism plan.  But we are aware that our Tourism Minister, The Premier, spoke to Fodor operatives.  

He would have told them that we are working towards creating a plan and he would have even given a timeline for completion of that plan.

And yet, with that assurance and with all that is happening to improve the quality of living and to bring focus to the necessities of life here, they found it necessary to disparage us before the world.

We resent that!

Deeply.

But they should know that they and those organizations bent on removing BVI from the competitive global business arena will not be successful.  

Neither will we allow the COI to kill our spirit nor the Order in Council to halt our progress.

BVI will survive for we are determined and resilient.  But in any case, I will say, although in words spoken by Percy and Barbara’s daughter:

“If the ship (ship BVI in this case) is going down, I’m going down with the ship.”

When BVI people are critical of its government, it is because we want our leaders to focus on making us the brilliant gem we know we can be.

Our criticism is never to destroy for BVI is our home; our business; our life.  And we will go all out to protect her from the casual assaults of those whose interests lie elsewhere.

So, we give notice through the lyrics of Idina Menzel, (Defying Gravity) 

“And nobody!

In all of Oz!

No wizard that there is or was

Is ever gonna bring...

(Us) Me down!!

Especially not on our Fridays.

Happy Friday!”