London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Oct 18, 2025

Premier pledges help to OTs seeking UN sustainable development support

Premier pledges help to OTs seeking UN sustainable development support

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has pledged his administration’s assistance to Overseas Territories (OTs) seeking United Nations support for sustainable development.
The Premier participated in a virtual Pre-Joint Ministerial Council on June 10 where he also thanked the political leaders of the British Overseas Territories (OTs) for their support to the Virgin Islands during the territory’s recent political turbulence.

“The strong advocacy of my OT colleagues, particularly in the Caribbean territories, made a difference in the outcome of the United Kingdom government’s decision to not partially suspend the constitution in response to the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry report. They have also generously offered technical assistance as the Government of National Unity implements reforms,” Dr Wheatley said.

Among the issues also discussed by the OT Leaders, was the impact of the loss of development assistance from the European Union (EU) caused by Brexit. On this agenda item, the Premier shared the success of the Virgin Islands in pivoting from the EU to the UN in securing technical assistance and funding for sustainable development to help replace EU development assistance.

“We have developed a strong relationship with the United Nations in support of our sustainable development and goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. ECLAC has helped us to develop a National Sustainable Development Plan, and UNDP is assisting us with disaster risk reduction and socio-economic recovery from COVID-19,” Dr Wheatley said.

“The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Barbados is facilitating our participation in a joint programme for social protection and youth economic empowerment being implemented by UNICEF, UNESCO, World Food Programme and the International Labour Organisation. My Administration will support our sister territories in engaging the UN as they seek similar assistance,” he added.

The OT leaders also discussed UK/OT relations, the environment, education, financial services, and economic resilience in preparation for ministerial meetings with the United Kingdom Government in November. The OTs represented at the pre-JMC included Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, St Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands and Pitcairn.

Premier Wheatley was joined by Acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Carolyn Stoutt Igwe, Financial Secretary Jeremiah Frett, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Dwynel Davis, Special Envoy of the Premier Benito Wheatley, Acting Director of the BVI London Office Tracy Bradshaw and Deputy Director of the BVI London Office Siobhan Flax.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race
Australia Faces Demographic Risk as Fertility Falls to Record Low
California County Reinstates Mask Mandate in Health Facilities as Respiratory Illness Risk Rises
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump-Brokered Gaza Truce, Hostages to Be Freed
French Political Turmoil Elevates Marine Le Pen as Rassemblement National Poised for Power
China Unveils Sweeping Rare Earth Export Controls to Shield ‘National Security’
The Davos Set in Decline: Why the World Economic Forum’s Power Must Be Challenged
France: Less Than a Month After His Appointment, the New French Prime Minister Resigns
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary will not adopt the euro because the European Union is falling apart.
Sarah Mullally Becomes First Woman Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
×