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Governor ‘disingenuous’ for saying elections was possible in 2022- Damian Percival

-says VI now tired of back & forth between Governor Rankin & Elected VI Gov’t
Tola Radio 100.5 co-host Damian Percival has declared that the people of the Virgin Islands are now tired of the back and forth between the Government of National Unity and the UK-appointed governor John J. Rankin CMG while accusing the Governor of being disingenuous in his relations with the VI government. Photo: Facebook/File
The Governor in a February 14, 2023, statement said it would have been possible for a dissolution of the House of Assembly and a new election called; however, members of the House of Assembly chose to form a Government of National Unity and committed to the implementation of the COI recommendations. Photo: Facebook/File
The Governor in a February 14, 2023, statement said it would have been possible for a dissolution of the House of Assembly and a new election called; however, members of the House of Assembly chose to form a Government of National Unity and committed to the implementation of the COI recommendations. Photo: Facebook/File
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI– Tola Radio 100.5 co-host Damian Percival has declared that the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) are now tired of the back and forth between the Government of National Unity and the UK-appointed governor John J. Rankin, CMG, while accusing the Governor of being disingenuous in his relations with the VI government.

Mr Percival was at the time speaking as a virtual panelist on the March 7, 2023, edition of ‘Da Morning Braff’ Show with host Floyd Burnett aka ‘Heritage’ on Tola Radio on the topic of whether the Government had the option to call early elections in the Virgin Islands in 2022.

“The fact of the matter is the Governor is saying that in the initial meetings, nobody brought up going to elections, and we are going to have to respect that,” he added.

Percival said while the Governor has indicated that it was an option, that option was never brought forward in meetings and negotiations with the UK on the suspension of the local constitution and implementation of the reforms as laid out in the CoI report.  

“In that vein, he is also being a touch disingenuous because is me and you negotiating, you are saying $1M and I saying $2M but nobody saying $1.5M was even an option?” he questioned metaphorically.

Governor muddying waters in VI - Mr Percival 

Percival added that the Governor is muddying the waters in the VI for bringing up that election was an option when the UK was proposing suspension of the constitution and the local government was proposing to keep the government in place.

The Governor in a February 14, 2023, statement said it would have been possible for a dissolution of the House of Assembly and a new election called; however, members of the House of Assembly chose to form a Government of National Unity and committed to the implementation of the CoI recommendations.

Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) called the statements by the Governor ‘unequivocally false,” while appearing as a guest on Tola Radio ‘da Morning Braff’ show of February 20, 2023.

“I'm not going allow the governor or anybody else to bamboozle the people of the Virgin Islands,” he said.

Dr Wheatley added that before he became Premier of the VI, he could not have called a new election as an Acting Premier and that the framework agreement between the VI and UK had specified that there should be no early elections in the VI.

16 Responses to “Governor ‘disingenuous’ for saying elections was possible in 2022- Damian Percival”

  • asura (08/03/2023, 08:28) Like (21) Dislike (13) Reply
    we all knew the governor tells white lies
    • @asura (08/03/2023, 08:59) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
      Good one, lol
    • Education Education Education (08/03/2023, 17:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      He didn’t say “elections was possible “. He may have said “Elections were possible “.
  • Youth (08/03/2023, 08:38) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply

    You cannot believe anything this Governor says. Is his only intention to deceive and destroy while trying to make the public think otherwise?

  • please (08/03/2023, 08:58) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Damian it is you now muddying the water. He clearly said the UK had not said no to early elections. The fact that it was not brought into the negotiations is irrelevant. The premier is saying the uk would not allow it.
  • Por que (08/03/2023, 09:04) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why is this news? We don’t care
  • Was it the NDP? (08/03/2023, 09:08) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    Who had pardoned this mouthpiece from going jail years ago?
    • Suga (08/03/2023, 09:49) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
      Shut the hell up!!! Yall always quick to try to bring down or condemn ppl. Yall sickening!!!
  • explained (08/03/2023, 09:41) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    ok, so for everyone to understand that what the Premier said and the Governor said are both correct! Read carefully...

    The Governor said elections could of been called early this was true.

    The Premier said he "couldn't" call elections early, this is also true.

    If the Premier had called elections early which could of happened he would of lost power and the UK would of taken over it really is that simple, both are correct!
    • @Explained (08/03/2023, 17:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      It’s “could have”, not “could have “.
      Happy to help.
  • smh (08/03/2023, 10:41) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    The man has many sides that he speaks from. He must be thing we are so dumb and daft that we don't see what is happening. Everything he addresses deemed to make the Territory low handicapped at maintaining Governance. This man know he came on vacation to cause disruption and caios upon his predecessor's guidance.
  • Ignorance (08/03/2023, 11:12) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    This guy has no idea what went on and what discussions took place - completely uninformed but makes a headline with his ‘opinion’ smh - seriously do we care what he thinks happened??
  • Norris Turnbull (08/03/2023, 13:10) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Call the Governor what he is.....Big Fat Liar.
  • Quiet Warrior (08/03/2023, 13:11) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Colonialism 1.0 was based on a lie and colonialism 2,0 is also based on a lie. Was colonialism supposedly not about being a civilizing mission. The blind see this clearly as a Big lie. The colonialists know that the whole scenario is a Big lie.
  • Sick (09/03/2023, 04:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    This dude does talk about this every morning on the show i sick of it now find something else to talk about nuhhh wtf


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