Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

'Heritage claims civil servants barred from protesting; Deputy Gov says not so

-Deputy Gov David D. Archer Jr says protesting is a ‘constitutional right’
Deputy Governor Mr David D. Archer Jr, right, has debunked claims made by Mr Floyd P. Burnett aka 'Heritage', left, that public officers were barred from attending a planned protest on Monday, June 2, 2025. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Only about eight persons attended the protest held at the roundabout in Road Town on June 2, 2025. Photo: Facebook
Only about eight persons attended the protest held at the roundabout in Road Town on June 2, 2025. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Deputy Governor Mr David D. Archer Jr has debunked claims made by Mr Floyd P. Burnett aka 'Heritage' that public officers were barred from attending a planned protest on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Mr Archer released a statement yesterday, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, where he called out the “inaccurate statements, impressions or expressions, indirectly or explicitly via a media platform which falsely reported the Deputy Governor’s refusal to allow public officers the opportunity to express their constitutional rights to expression and assembly”.

Constitutional right

The Deputy Governor added that the rights to expression and assembly are part of rights and freedoms established in Sections 23 and 24 of the Virgin Islands (VI) Constitution Order of 2007.

Mr Archer also said he facilitated a request by Governor Daniel Pruce to share the correspondence sent to Mr Burnett by the Governor allowing his request for a peaceful protest with Senior Managers.

This was done on May 30, 2025 and was to allow Senior Managers to“engage staff within their Ministries, should they have questions regarding the march”.

The statement further clarifies that Mr Archer’s communications included instructions on how public officers can be released if they had intended to attend the march while ensuring the delivery of services to clients, which is in line with established policies within the Public Service.

19 Responses to “'Heritage claims civil servants barred from protesting; Deputy Gov says not so”

  • 2024 (05/06/2025, 16:11) Like (6) Dislike (35) Reply
    Heritage for At Large NDP Candidate come 2027
    • Bull Spit (05/06/2025, 17:20) Like (27) Dislike (1) Reply
      This is the problem in the Territory in a nutshell: when things fail, no one takes responsibility. A protest draws no crowd—not because of poor planning or lack of public support—but somehow, it’s still someone else’s fault. The irony is glaring: a man preaching accountability fails to apply it to himself.
      As usual, Archer becomes the convenient scapegoat, but he has demonstrated that he can defend himself remember Mika Barry? The reality is plain—most people in this Territory don’t want this man speaking on their behalf.
      Campaigning is easy, its just talk . Actual Governing is difficult its about results. One requires charisma; the other demands competence and consistency. Too many still confuse the two. And here we are acutually encouraging the foolishness.
    • At 2024 (05/06/2025, 18:58) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
      DEAD ON ARRIVAL LOLOL
    • ha (06/06/2025, 07:14) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      1,000 protestors ????
  • staff (05/06/2025, 16:16) Like (30) Dislike (9) Reply
    The man is worse than Cindy
  • Guest (05/06/2025, 16:53) Like (23) Dislike (14) Reply
    So who barred persons from the private sector, and who barred persons who are unemployed? Heritage is delusional.
    • @Guest. Ur sleeping, wake up. (06/06/2025, 07:17) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      Your sick, they were saying worse about Noel Lloyd, But Wickham s Cay now belong to us to rome freely. It take courageous people like Heritage, of the past as far back as 400 yrs ago who most at times stand alone, gave their lives, for injustice so we and you can enjoy the life we have today, Our lives are in reverse, you too blind to ignorant to see it...Soon very soon if things don't change 300 Civil servants on the release list..
    • good points (06/06/2025, 08:43) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      Exactly, nobody is stopping them from attending.Its just hard for him to admit that he might have the right message but he is the wrong messenger.
  • SYDNEY (05/06/2025, 18:24) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Archer well know Heritage is telling thr truth!!!!
  • spur foot (05/06/2025, 18:47) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Heritage is a Mix-Up somebody literally. Can't be ever genuine.
  • lord o. (05/06/2025, 19:15) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Respect Heritage 100.
  • Audit the auditor (05/06/2025, 21:49) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is right The public servants were barred from attending the planned protest. And for the Governor and duty Governor they are both lying, they both want to obfuscate things and tell you what you think you want to hear.
  • Watch in the marrow (05/06/2025, 22:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Heard the ras calling people names but he is the biggest fish
  • civ servant (05/06/2025, 23:21) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    We werent barred but everyone knew you would face retaliation if you went
  • Not Spoken… (06/06/2025, 00:07) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is known that public officers cannot attend such events. It may not be written but if one dares to defy the unwritten law…
  • Vatte1957 (06/06/2025, 03:03) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    Regardless of political sides, the right to peaceful assembly and expression should never be questioned. I'm glad Mr Archer emphasized that it's enshrined in the Constitution. Hopefully this clears the air for future public discourse.
    block blast
  • give up (06/06/2025, 10:06) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    because this wanna be 'leader' of the protest is the wrong messenger as well as a noisy embarrassment to the people of the BVI..
  • Stealth (06/06/2025, 12:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    True, civil,servants may have the right to protest . But in a tiny locale such as the VI, is it smart first thing Monday leave the job and go protest against the government. Is that smart ? Is it risky?
  • Pest Control (06/06/2025, 20:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    one would think the talk show host had more power


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.