MESSAGE FROM MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION
HONOURABLE VINCENT O. WHEATLEY
ON THE PASSING OF MR. PETR KELLNER

30 March, 2021

Good day everyone.

I am extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Petr Kellner. Mr. Kellner was a very private individual but his love for these Virgin Islands, especially Virgin Gorda, was well known. This love shown was manifested following the devastating hurricanes of 2017 when he jumpstarted recovery efforts by making funds available to start the clean-up process.

After a meeting with Premier Smith and Governor Jaspert in 2017, Mr. Kellner took the recovery of Virgin Gorda as a personal project. He brought in building materials, generators, refrigerators, ice and whatever else was needed and donated to the people of Virgin Gorda. It was through his efforts that many homes got repaired and lives restored.

Mr. Kellner was a very humble, quiet and unassuming person. If you did not know who he was, you were very likely to bypass him as a regular tourist. Just last week he was seen relaxing at Bay 6 enjoying a cup of coffee. He was the owner of the Sugar Cane Restaurant and the soon to be opened Saba Rock Resort.

In one of our conversations, he explained that he bought Saba Rock Resort to ensure that locals always had a place to go in the North Sound area. This was the character of the man I knew. I held Mr. Kellner in high esteem as he not only spoke of the love he had for these islands but also demonstrated it in deeds, without fanfare. He was looking forward to retiring in the Virgin Islands at some point in time and making the BVI his permanent home.

The people of these Islands and in particular, the Ninth District Community, has lost a friend that has shown his love for these islands when we were at our lowest and most vulnerable. Mr. Kellner was also a significant stakeholder in the tourism industry and was willing to assist whenever called upon. He will truly be missed.

On behalf of myself and the people of Virgin Gorda I send sincere condolence to his family and friends.

May his soul Rest in Peace