Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley has revealed plans to collaborate with the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) to improve the internet services being offered in the territory.
Premier Wheatley made the disclosure while speaking following the just concluded ninth meeting of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council in St. Thomas.
He said among the topics discussed between the two territories was the subject of the internet.
“We certainly were able to discuss matters of internet, giving our people access in both the USVI side and the BVI side to high-quality, high-speed internet. Because we recognised that internet is a right to our citizens and it can help us in our schools, in our tourism product, in our community parks etcetera”, the premier stated.
USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said the subject of the internet and digitising was the most important topic discussed at the meeting.
He spoke to the many benefits that could prevail should both areas continue to be developed in the two territories.
“I think the key topic of this union today was digitising and internet. Technology will allow us to be able to do the things that we’ve never been able to do before. Ease access in terms of business, ease access in terms of immigration and ease access in terms of our people meeting, greeting and having a good time here in the greater Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan stated.
Meanwhile, at a subsequent press conference, Premier Wheatley reiterated the need for better internet services in the BVI.
He pointed to a number of new business ventures which have developed following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic which could have significant benefits to the territory’s economy.
“We want to also improve our internet access and things like that so we can invite persons here who might want to just stay. It’s a new thing, especially since COVID where persons move around and are able to do their work from anywhere. In order to do that we have to improve our internet and we have to improve our IT infrastructure generally. We want to add more services,” he explained.