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Governor lied on saying VI had option of going to elections– Premier

- Premier Wheatley slams Governor Rankin as being part of agenda to bamboozle VI given Framework of CoI implementation had specified there should be no early elections
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R2) has again slammed the Governor, Mr John J. Rankin CMG for statements made that following the release of the Commission of Inquiry report, the Virgin Islands Government had the option of calling fresh elections. Photo: VINO/File
Governor John J. Rankin 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: VINO/File
Governor John J. Rankin 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: VINO/File
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI - Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has again slammed the Governor, Mr John J. Rankin, CMG, this time for saying the Virgin Islands Government had the option of calling fresh elections following the release of the Commission of Inquiry Report last year.

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 Wheatley; however, has called those statements completely false.

“The other statement had to do with the fact that the Unity Government had the option or myself as the Premier had the option of going straight to elections, and that is false, that's unequivocally false,” Dr Wheatley said on Tola Radio VI on February 20, 2023, after addressing issues relating to the controversial Police Bill.

The Premier said since receiving the report, the Government had been trying its best to have as good a relationship with the United Kingdom as possible.

No options of early elections - Hon Wheatley 

He reiterated that the VI Government had wanted to maintain a good relationship in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands because he believes that collaboration is better than conflict.

According to the Premier, the statement from the Governor is therefore one that this trying to bamboozle the people of the VI.

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

The Premier further releveled that he, nor the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration came up with the concept of a Unity Government, rather it was the Opposition in the person of Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), to prevent the suspension of the constitution. 

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 there should be no early elections in the VI.

23 Responses to “Governor lied on saying VI had option of going to elections– Premier ”

  • Youth (21/02/2023, 08:29) Like (17) Dislike (14) Reply
    It is clear the Governor is creating unnecessary public confusion to try to win the minds and hearts of the people of the BVI so he can try to justify his next move which will never be in the best interest of the people of the BVI, only that of himself and his UK Officials.
  • Clearly (21/02/2023, 08:34) Like (17) Dislike (15) Reply
    Clearly the true colors of this Governor is coming out more and more and it does not look good.
  • reality (21/02/2023, 08:38) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Every story has three sides, yours, mine and the truth. This holds true for this pre-authored COI report and the well organized COI recommendations and actions. We need the Cox report to get the other side of the story. Then let the people and the courts decide the truth. We cannot trust the Governor and his UK team because they have one agenda.
    • My experience... (21/02/2023, 09:36) Like (19) Dislike (7) Reply
      I had an Issue with a Govt office. I wrote the governor and the Premier seeking their assistance, In a matter of a week I got a hand delivered response from the governor and in a matter of another week I got a letter from the govt office concerned, ( problem solved ) , to date not as much as even a receipt of acknowledgement from the good leader...So to me the Governor seems more concern and credible.
  • oh ho (21/02/2023, 08:44) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    That's what yuh get for kissing behind. Now what other mess the guv went to the uk to do this week? If he lie about this and he lie about that, premier should be writing to the uk about it, to the UN, to caricom, to the international media, etcetera. I do not want to hear it. Most of the COI recommendations are based on lies too. But the premier did not challenge it. Why not? What promises did they give to him? Did they play him like a fiddle and now the relationship he thought was had is falling apart? Only the courageous and elected can lead the people from under this modern day Pharoah wanna-be. Read your bible to know the history and support the people in this territory who can do the job , no matter the party they on. What a sad situation.
  • cay (21/02/2023, 09:17) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Both of them telling lies and both of them must go fast
  • my view (21/02/2023, 09:24) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    The Governor is being given a free pass by the press and the people. He needs to be asked the tuff questions and be made to give straight answers.
  • Liar, liar, (21/02/2023, 09:28) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    He has always been a liar, nothing new there.
  • Now you see the light (21/02/2023, 09:30) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    You thought he was your friend but now you see the light.
  • VI Gyal (21/02/2023, 09:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is like you do not know who to believe. Governor or Premier. Governor say that this and that happened or could have and then Premier always comes back and say no...it is all a lie.
  • @ OH HO (21/02/2023, 09:43) Like (1) Dislike (12) Reply
    WHY DIDN'T YOU GO WITH HIM , INSTEAD SPEWING OUT YOUR SHI*TTY RACIST RETHORIC EVERY CHANCE YOU GET , YOU EVEN GOING ON THE SAME SITE YOU YOU FINDING ALL KINDS FAULT WITH , AND USING DIFFERENT NAMES TO CREAT NUMBERS , IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN FIND TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME HERE ON EARTH ???? WITH QUESTION ❓
  • jah rastafari (21/02/2023, 09:49) Like (10) Dislike (6) Reply
    All I have to say on this matter is that we have proven the Governor to be a liar months ago when he said that he was not aware that the DEA was investigating Fahie but as he opened his mouth last week and told a lie again we whose skin colour is the same as the Premier was judge, juror and executioner. We believed everything the white man say without hearing the side of the black man.
    Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds!
  • Jill (21/02/2023, 09:57) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
    Why would the Premier say there was no option to call a fresh election. Because the COI did not make those direct statements does not mean it was not an option. Did the COI ask that a “Unity Government” be formed. I doubt it, but if it did i have not yet reached that in my reading. Government did have an option to call an election but they are power hungry and would never have resorted to that, so they formed a unity government to try to correct their errors, which now seemed like an impossible task, so they are talking about pressure. The job they elected for is riddled with pressure and it takes understanding, experience, communication and a some intelligence. Now stop calling the Governor names and try to read along the lines and stop taking us for fools. You made a choice and calling an election was one you opted not to choose.
  • akon (21/02/2023, 10:11) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    I don't know how Archer can work with these governors, obviously he is a house slave. What good is a man if he cannot stand firm in righteousness. Better if that man was not born.
  • Guest (21/02/2023, 10:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Divide and rule is an enduring feature of colonialism. This Governor just playing his part.
  • Governor is a liar (21/02/2023, 10:33) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    You can't trust the Governor. He is a liar and colonialist who wants to suspend the constitution so he can rule. He lied about know about US activities in the Territory.
  • hmm! (21/02/2023, 10:43) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    how would there be options when all they were doing was threatening to suspend the constitution. Oh please ! In less than 24 hours Wheatly saved the BVI's but!
    • Just wondering (21/02/2023, 13:01) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      "Saved the BVI's but" from what? Seems to me like we are still in the same predicament we were in immediately after the COI. How many of the recommendations were adhered to?
  • MY VOICE (21/02/2023, 11:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am confused between the leadership of this Territory.

    The Governor is saying one thing
    The Premier is saying another thing
    The two (2) of them are blaming each other

    I do not know who is speaking the truth
    As far as I am concern Both are telling lies
    and there is a conflict between the two of them
    just like the conflict between former Governor "Gus"
    and the Head Coach who is in Miami Florida relaxing.
  • lodger (21/02/2023, 12:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another day, another dollar. As I said before, when the cats away, the mice will play.
  • hmm (21/02/2023, 12:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think the premier is using smoke and mirrors. Once the proposal for a unity government was suggested it was then agreed no early elections. Prior to this early elections could have taken place. We are not fools.
  • Rubber Duck (21/02/2023, 13:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its hard to get rats out of the cheese shop.
  • Rise up against UK (21/02/2023, 13:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Send this Governor back to England with he set a lies! He threaten the Government to suspend the constitution. No election was on them. The people need to see through his dishonesty. Rise up!


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