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Political opponents have spent entire campaign on 'kicking VIP out of office'- Premier

- said their hypocrisy will never take the VI where it needs to go
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has lamented that the other political parties, namely National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), have spent their entire campaign focusing on what they termed as mistakes of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) but have neglected to share a clear vision for the territory to their supporters. Photo: VINO/File
Speaking at the final rally of the VIP on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in the area of One Stop Mall in Road Town, Dr Wheatley said the VIP throughout its campaign has been speaking about its record and plans. Photo: Facebook
Speaking at the final rally of the VIP on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in the area of One Stop Mall in Road Town, Dr Wheatley said the VIP throughout its campaign has been speaking about its record and plans. Photo: Facebook
Political opponents of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) have been accused of focusing heavily on the mistakes of the VIP and have spent less time on providing clear plans for the territory. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
Political opponents of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) have been accused of focusing heavily on the mistakes of the VIP and have spent less time on providing clear plans for the territory. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has lamented that the other political parties, namely National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), have spent their entire campaign focusing on what they termed as mistakes of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) but have neglected to share a clear vision for the territory to their supporters.

He also said the other parties trying to portray themselves as squeaky clean is hypocrisy and not what is needed to take the Virgin Islands forward at this juncture.

VIP has campaigned on its record & plans- Dr Wheatley

Speaking at the final rally of the VIP on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in the area of One Stop Mall in Road Town, Dr Wheatley said the VIP throughout its campaign has been speaking about its record and plans.

“We have been speaking to you about that fact that we have been guiding the Virgin Islands through very turbulent waters. We were speaking to about the fact that we were helping with the recovery from the hurricanes.”

He said the electorate was told how the VIP administration rebuilt the Elmore Stoutt High School, refurbished the now L. Adorothy Turnbull L-Shaped- Building, rebuilt the Bregado Flax Educational Centre, is rebuilding the Jost van Dyke Primary School, repaired the Jeffrey Caines Arena on Virgin Gorda and did repair works on recreational facilities also on Anegada and Tortola.

Other VIP achievements

The Premier continued that the VIP government repaired administration buildings, fire stations, post offices and mailboxes across the islands.

“We have been telling you how we helped the Virgin Islands to recover from the most devastating natural disasters in our history…We told you how we helped to guide and protest the Virgin Islands through the pandemic by God’s grace and mercy. We told you how we helped to keep COVID-19 out.

“We ensured that not one family went hungry during the pandemic.”

Other achievements mentioned were the building of social homes, provision of assistance grants, rebuilding of the Market Square, traffic turnaround, direct flights, solar power on Anegada, passing of the National Sustainable Development Plan, the Blue and Green Economy and transforming the Exclusive Fisheries Zone into an Exclusive Economic Zone, among others.

‘Hypocrisy’

“Our opponents on the other hand have based their entire campaign on kicking the VIP out of office. Some of them even put up on a screen in Fish Bay, ‘kick dem out’ and they have a ball there being kicked out.

“They are spending all their time telling you why you should get rid of the VIP, as opposed to telling you why you should vote for them. And that should tell you something.

Dr Wheatley said NDP 1 and NDP 2 (PVIM) have based their campaign on VIP mistakes and put up a “billboard full of nonsense”.

The Premier said the Virgin Islands cannot move forward if it is unable to acknowledge where it has gone wrong.

Dr Wheatley acknowledged that the NDP and PVIM wanted their supporters to focus solely on the Virgin Islands Party mistakes, but they have ignored their own.

“I am saying to you that is hypocrisy and that will never take us where we need to go.”

Only the VIP has a full slate of 13 candidates for the 2023 General Elections.

PVIM has nine candidates on its slate while the NDP also has nine candidates.

22 Responses to “Political opponents have spent entire campaign on 'kicking VIP out of office'- Premier”

  • THEY (24/04/2023, 08:16) Like (44) Dislike (38) Reply
    They will not succeed. VIP going right back in office. Mark my words!
    • WE WILL SEE (24/04/2023, 09:17) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      We will see who is going to be forming the Government.
    • Commish (24/04/2023, 09:59) Like (20) Dislike (9) Reply
      Voted VIP.
    • Reasons to vote for VIP (24/04/2023, 11:14) Like (21) Dislike (14) Reply
      Give the VIP credit where it is due especially having to deal with covid the worse pandemic in the last 100 years and to have to deal with the damages left unattended to from Irma and Maria in the most hectic 4 years in the history of the BVI and the world.

      - New High School buildings and facility to take our teachers and children out of that moldy building they were put in by the NDP for a ridiculous amount of money monthly paid to the NDP partner where that contract was never audited.
      - Electric shuttle bus ride service around town free to all who use it. I use it all the time and love it.
      - New Road Town Market Square.
      - National Sustainable development plan projecting the way forward for the BVI for the next 20 years which shows progressive and innovative thinking. This was assisted by the UN.
      - Thousands of persons received their belonger status after being bluffed by NDP for years & watching the NDP give status to only their rich white friends just before the 2019 general elections.
      - Direct flights to USA(Miami) and back starting soon.
      - Revived the Cruise industry after Covid
      - Salary review for all public officers ongoing with the only delay being the Governor and his office.
      - Paid some of the many increments due to public officers by the NDP Government long before VIP took office.
      - Repaired the BFEC school building on VG
      - Repaired 3 Administration buildings on VG from the damage from Irma. One in North Sound and two in the Valley.
      - Fixed the resivor in North Sound, VG and the water woes.
      - Repaired the Administration building in JVD from the damage from Irma and named it.
      - Fixed the Lee Road in Virgin Gorda
      - Constructed new port dock, building and other facilities on JVD.
      - Paved Dog Hole road on JVD.
      - Constructed and paved new and existing roads on JVD.
      - Address JVD water issues.
      - Paved and Repaired new and existing roads on Anegada.
      - Repaired CCEC school structure on Anegada
      - Repaired basketball court and sport facility on Anegada
      - Repaired Fire station building on Anegada.
      - Repaired community center building on Anegada.
      - Repaired Administration building on Anegada.
      - Saving millions through purchase of new asphalt plant to fix our horrible public roads the NDP said they fixed with $16 mill from Social Security that still remains not properly unaccounted for and somehow missed the COI.
      - Repaired many community centers on Tortola including Sea Cow's Bay, Brewer's Bay, West End and others.
      - Constructed new modern lab at the hospital in Road Town.
      - Completed and opened Hospital in VG.
      - Passed many good governance legislation
      - Governed during the most difficult time in the BVI and world during covid coupled with dealing with all the damages left unattended to by the NDP Government after Iram and Maria.
      - Did an excellent job in keeping a high majority of us safe and alive during the worse of covid and prevented the economy from tanking out with some of the same grants they are now being crucified for now by others who want the public to think the good they did to help is really bad.
      - Repaired many of the roads and infrastructure on Tortola and the other sister islands from the damages from Irma and Maria.
      - Restarted the scholarship abroad programme that was stop after Irma where 50 or more BVI people are now receiving government scholarships yearly to study abroad.
      - Teacher Associate & Bachelors programme at HLSCC and UWI to ensure teachers are trained and qualified.
      - Gained accreditation of hospital.
      - Assistance in funding Masters and above programmes.
      - Major duty tax break for all during covid to pass on to consumers to try to assist in lowering the cost of living which is rising worldwide.
      - Unemployment benefits during COVID where no one in the private industry could work during to the lock down.
      - Transportation programme to assist taxi industry during covid lock down.
      - Amended customs act to allow for many entrepreneurs in the marine industry during covid.
      - Started Marine course and certification at HLSCC to create more opportunities in the marine industry through jobs and entrepreneurs by training and qualifying persons interested from BVI.
      - Retrained and retool persons in the Hospitality industry during covid to prepare them for new opportunities.
      - Started certification programme in the area of alternative energy at HLSCC.
      - Gained accreditation of HLSCC.
      - Continued subsidy for ferry transportation to and from Anegada for Anegadians.
      - Repairing the Administration building in Tortola that was damaged after Irma and never attended to by the NDP.
      - Tax break on stamp duty for all belongers purchasing land and property during the covid era.
      - Saved many businesses, persons and university students from demise through the same grants they are now being crucified for by the well-planned attack.
      - Constructed, Repaired and paved many new and existing roads on Tortola.
      - negotiated with banks to do moratorium to assist the BVI people & businesses with difficulties being experienced in payment during covid.
      - Repaired the Ivan Dawson school and many other school facilities on Tortola.
      - Commenced construction of the long awaited and promised new school facility on Jost Van Dyke.
      - Made sure everyone was fed during all the lock downs with covid with food vouchers and home deliveries among other means.
      - kept us informed and safe as much as was possible during the early bad days of covid where no government in the world knew what to do as there was no playbook for this worse pandemic in the last 100 years.
      - Made sure all district representatives received the same amount of funds whether in government or opposition to try to help we the people during the worse of covid.
      - The first government in years to pass all budgets on time and balanced each budget each of the four years in office.
      - Passed all financial ratings regionally and abroad.
      - Funded many senior citizens programmes to take care of our seniors.
      - Restarted the Alternative Education programme so persons who did not finish school can attend and get their high school diploma.
      - Repaired the multipurpose complex and a/c after major damages due to Irma.
      - Repaired the police stations and marine bases after damages from Irma.
      - Assisted in the opening of Banco Popular on VG so there can be banking on VG again.
      - Passed consumer protection legislation.
      - Repaired many sport facilities including basketball courts like East End, West End, Diamond, Anegada, VG, Carrot Bay, Sea Cow's Bay and all over.
      - Restarted the seniors programme to cherish our seniors and honor them.

      Will stop there for now as the list is extensive in only hectic 4 years. The VIP good far outweighs their negative and that is why the ongoing devious plots are intensifying to try to get in people's mind otherwise to try to influence the elections and try to get VIP out to turn it over to their rich and famous friends but who GOD BLESS no man can curse.

      These are the reasons to vote for VIP. VIP ALL THE WAY!!!
    • @THEY (24/04/2023, 12:23) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      Some of them had no choice as they have been working with the colonial powers to guarantee their freedom if they help them to try to get the VIP out of office. It will all backfire on all of them. God will not be mocked.
  • Margret Thatcher (24/04/2023, 08:50) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    You were expecting an endorsement?
  • Captain Obvious (24/04/2023, 08:58) Like (49) Dislike (0) Reply
    that is kinda the point of an election
    • @Captain Obvious (24/04/2023, 11:31) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      @Captain Obvious, holding an election is part of the democratic process whereby citizens elect representatives to represent their interest in the legislature, ie, passing laws on which social order and justice depends. An opponent ‘s record is open for debate and criticism. But challengers need to also state clearly what are their plans to move the country. Just criticizing the current government without state what you will do differently is a useless exercise. Elections as another blogger noted is about the future. But without organizing and planning, etc, is just an exercise in futility. Criticism but provide credible, practical solutions. Criticizing without solutions is like a dog chasing and catches up with a car. Then nothing happens. This campaign was a generalities talk fest, negative focus, and lacking specifics. Problems cannot be solved on just talk and generalities. Planning and specific actions are required. Well, at this juncture, voters are casting their ballots, minds already made up. Lets us see what happens when the polls closed at 6:00 pm. From my arm
      Chair projection, a coalition government is highly likely.
  • Disinterested (24/04/2023, 09:11) Like (26) Dislike (11) Reply
    The are no Pilates in this campaign. The VIP have made mistakes. NDP have made mistakes. PU is a one-man party? PVIM or NDP Lite or NDP2 have had its share of mistakes. He that is without cast the first stone. If you live in glass house you should not throw stones. Ok. The election is about the future. That is what the focus should have been on. Highlighting the mistakes of one thing but you must put forth your plan of action. Wasted opportunity. Not a serious effort. Some parties, Major parties, could not even field a full slate of candidates. Really!!
    • Really (24/04/2023, 11:43) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      Really, if the opposition is claiming that VIP is so bad yet it cannot field a full slate of 13 candidates. Is there doubt in its claim ? Is the electorate lacking confidence in the opposition? There is high interest in running so why are not candidates running to join the opposition team. One party cannot even field two candidates. A one man party is not a party but a joke. The leader is masquerading about forming a government. How? Just a poppy show. The BVI is in trouble and needs serious people. The $7.2M BVI Airways yet unaccountable debacle should be a disqualifier, for starters. Nuff said.
  • WHAT!!! (24/04/2023, 09:24) Like (25) Dislike (7) Reply
    Everyone sitting in the HOA should go.
    They all voted themselves for the “greedy bill” which would end up costing the tax payer millions.
    Only when this bill was made public did they say they would repeal it, so if it is wrong why you all pass it in the first place?
  • ? (24/04/2023, 10:18) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did he really said that, that's why it's call POLITICS . Why people hire a Lawyer?
  • vi (24/04/2023, 10:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes you needs to go think we're not watching going all over the place in the night from East to west but I will still pray for you sir
  • jokes (24/04/2023, 11:09) Like (8) Dislike (13) Reply
    PVIM has nine candidates on its slate while the NDP also has nine candidates.

    So how do they expect to win and how can their at-large teams win.
    • B (24/04/2023, 11:41) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
      jokes (24/04/2023, 11:09) Like (0) Dislike (2)ReplyPVIM has nine candidates on its slate while the NDP also has nine candidates
      7 seats is known as a majority, yes thirteen does give you a greater probability of winning!
    • Joke Indeed (24/04/2023, 11:48) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      They have given up on representing some districts. Really!!! Should a government not represent all the people? Yes, yes, yes. Jokers, jokers wild!!
  • lol (24/04/2023, 11:35) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    As they should... Yall were terrible!
  • @Joke Indeed (24/04/2023, 13:41) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    There is nothing wrong in being critical and you are entitled to your opinion. But the fact is that not everyone is interested in politics or want to be a politician and no one can force you to do what you don’t want to do either. So by stating that the other two parties have given up on representing the nine districts is totally erroneous and unfair. On the other hand, the race is not to the swift or to the party with the most candidates. At the end of the day, the voters would have spoken and campaign 2023 would be history.
  • if (24/04/2023, 13:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE VIP HAS CLEAN HANDS , WHAT IS THERE TO FEAR ( THOSE WHO CREATED ALL THE MUD SLINGING IN THE LAST ELECTION , WHICH WORKED , JUST LIKE WHAT TRUMP DID ,
    BUT DIDN'T THEY EXPEXTED THAT TWO CAN PLAY THAT SAME GAME , DUH
  • Lucy (24/04/2023, 16:19) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Dr Wheatley's words - "We ensured that not one family went hungry during the pandemic.” How on earth does he know that? Well, sir, people outside of the Government were assisting some people because Government did not f----t on those they thought did not support them while some people posted on factbook the amount of packages they received. Stop telling stories you know nothing about.
  • ,,!,,! (26/04/2023, 21:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They dont want you there because Your a liar and you have people believing in your lies please stop helping God he don't need your help wishing you all the best but you need to stop lie.
  • .?..?...? (26/04/2023, 21:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the vision for the 7 district really will like to know? When driving through the 7 still look the same


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