The Virgin Islands Party has been able to secure the support of three opposition members, who have crossed the floor to join its government since its election in 2023. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has proven to be a political sniper. Photo: Facebook

Premier and Minister of Finance of the Virgin Islands, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7). Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

“You can accuse him of not getting anything done, you can accuse him of having the country economically constipated, there’s no movement, but he has proven to be a political sniper,” Skelton-Cline said on the final episode of Honesly Speaking for 2025, on December 23, 2025, on ZBVI 780 AM. 

3 opposition members move to VIP 

“Now the Virgin Islands Party government has 3 people in government who have not joined, and that in itself is interesting,” Skelton-Cline stated. 

Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) is the latest member of the House of Assembly to move across to the Virgin Islands Party government from the Opposition. He crossed the floor in December 2025.

Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) was sworn in as Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change in October 2025, after leaving the Opposition. 

Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), was also poached by the VIP government after being elected as an At-Large Representative of the National Democratic Party (NDP) at the April 2023 general elections. She crossed the floor to help form the government with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), which had won 6 of the 7 seats in the HoA. 

She was given the portfolio of Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade. She was fired in October 2024, just before the Opposition was to bring a Motion of No Confidence against Premier Wheatley. 

Hon Smith was subsequently invited to rejoin the government in March 2025 and given the portfolio she currently holds as Junior Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Economic Development. 

“That guy can pick them off, he’s a sharp shooter, and you got to give him credit for that,” Skelton-Cline said. 

Mather trying to save political life

Skelton-Cline also suggested that Hon Mather took a chance moving to the VIP government. 

“I suspect he’s trying to save his political life, and you know all of us are motivated by a healthy self at times, and there’s a need for some self-preservation.”

He added that while it may not guarantee Hon Mather’s re-election it makes sense. 

“At least it gives him a better chance because he’s with the old party, VIP, interestingly enough, he said that he’s not joining the party, he’s joining the government.”