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VI Premier maintains he ‘unequivocally’ never slept on Antigua airport floor

- Following accusations by Guavaberry Media that VI premier slept on floor @V.C. Bird International Airport as a result of flight delays to London
Despite clarifying that he never slept on the airport floor as a result of a flight delay in Antigua, Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Whatley (R7) is being accused of discrediting a local media house, specifically Guavaberry Media Inc operated by Cindy Rosan. Photo: GIS/Facebook/File
A post on Facebook by the controversial Rosemary Cindy Rosan that Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) slept on the floor at the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua has already been labelled as fake by the Government of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/Facebook
A post on Facebook by the controversial Rosemary Cindy Rosan that Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) slept on the floor at the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua has already been labelled as fake by the Government of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Despite clarifying that he never slept on the airport floor as a result of a flight delay in Antigua, Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is being accused of discrediting a local media house, specifically Guavaberry Media Inc operated by Rosemary Cindy Rosan.

During his press conference on Monday, January 23, 2023, Premier Wheatley said he had to virtually engage students and citizens who attended a townhall and luncheon at BVI London House from a hotel in Antigua and Barbuda due to his flight to the UK being grounded. 

Guavaberry Media accuses Premier of lying 

Guavaberry Media Inc in a Facebook post last evening, January 23, 2023, said eyewitnesses remain adamant on information shared with its newsroom, "Persons in attendance at the planned Lunch on Sunday, January 15th, at the BVI London House, are also standing by the comments they heard the Premier make, while addressing the attendees - 'it’s been a while since the last time I slept on an airport floor,'” it said. 

The media entity had first said the incident was an embarrassment to the VI and its leader; however, the Premier continued to maintain the incident never happened.

“As I said in my statement, we had a flight due to leave for the United Kingdom. So I think it was somewhere around 8:40 [pm] we were supposed to leave, but very close to midnight, the flight still had not taken off. We actually had boarded the plane, we had to deplane and at that point, of course, it was clear that the plane would not be taking off.” 

'I did not sleep on the floor of the airport'

The Premier detailed that officials from the airport said they were going to find accommodations, however, due to two or three other flights also having delays, the hotels were booked and the delegation was told to remain at the airport.

"So we were advised to wait in the airport until a hotel became available and when the hotel became available we went to the hotel and then we were able to engage the BVI London Office through a virtual call and, of course, later in that day we were able to catch a plane and go to the United Kingdom,” he said.

“Let me just say, unequivocally and without a shadow of a doubt, I did not sleep on the floor of the airport. And I think it's again, reckless, it's inaccurate and it's misleading and the story also I would say unfairly has a negative focus on my support team. 

The Premier recognised the work of his Permanent Secretary and others for their efforts to make sure he was comfortable as possible and that the overall trip went as planned. 

“The entire trip went very smoothly, of course, that incident was unavoidable and we made the best out of the situation that existed and I’m grateful for the concern that persons have shared listening [and] receiving that report but certainly that report should be discarded, the one from Guavaberry Media should be discarded because it's inaccurate and misleading,” he said.

It is not the first time Rosan, a fierce critic of Premier Wheatley, has been accused by the Premier of practising reckless journalism to portray him in a negative light.

She recently accused him of having an "inappropriate" relationship with two media persons who were recently hired by Government.

It is unclear whether the Premier is pursuing legal action on either of the two most recent allegations made against him by Rosan.

17 Responses to “VI Premier maintains he ‘unequivocally’ never slept on Antigua airport floor ”

  • Why (24/01/2023, 10:23) Like (66) Dislike (1) Reply
    Does it matter, if he slept at the airport? I have done so many times. As long as he does his job, to the best of his abilities, for the people of the BVI; that's all that matters.
  • Yes (24/01/2023, 10:26) Like (57) Dislike (2) Reply
    C!NdY is a spiteful, evil woman. I hope she knows that no one (including her own family members) will vote for her if she tries to run for Elections. Vindictive is the only word I can find that suits her
    • Linda (24/01/2023, 18:38) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      She sure is. She is the type of person who, if elected and she doesn't like you, she will make your life a living hell. Let's not give her that power! Look at her face and that pose yesterday, she is begging for attention. Soooooooo sick of her. Not professional at all!
  • Xxx (24/01/2023, 10:27) Like (11) Dislike (18) Reply
    Why is the slow man lying
  • W*F (24/01/2023, 10:47) Like (39) Dislike (1) Reply
    WHO CARES??
  • oh boy (24/01/2023, 11:39) Like (41) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok, so what if he slept on the floor? How does that impact his work or the people of the BVI?
    Many delayed travelers - including myself - have made the best of available spaces in airports around the world including the floor.
    This nonsense appearing in one of our major papers seem rather malicious, juvenile and particularly repulsive. The underlying question is, would we want this Cindy person occupying any office of responsibility here in our territory?
  • GTFOH (24/01/2023, 12:00) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lol that’s the problem with Cindy. She is never on the scene but the first one talking. You were not there Cindy, You did not see anybody sleeping in the floor. A person that is willing to tell Cindy that the Premier slept on the floor knowing that Cindy dislikes the Premier is a person that most likely would have taken a picture of the Premier sleeping on the floor. So it’s reasonable to suggest that it did not happen. She don’t have real friends they feeding her false information because they know she like to talk.
  • hmm! (24/01/2023, 12:01) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    BUT WHAT HAPPEN TO MAMSEL NAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
    SO FREAKING ANOINING...…MAN!!!!!
    HE ShOULD SUE HER SELF, BECAUSE THATS ALL SHE DOES TO OTHERS, AND WHEN SHE REALISE SHE IS PROVOKIVLY WRONG AND LOOK FOR WHAT SHE GETS, SHES RECALLING IT! SUE SELF, SOME THINGS HAVE THEIR PLACE AND TIME. SHES LIKE A MOSQUITO WITH BONE!
  • Thankful (24/01/2023, 13:32) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    If he did sleep on the floor, at least we didn't have to pay for a luxury hotel for him overnight!
  • Talking Season (24/01/2023, 14:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cheap shot for media attention. Buddy how low can we go. I would never believe it is her who spread this mess. She is better than that.
  • HMMM (24/01/2023, 14:47) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't understand.... I assume as a premier and leader of a country he would have diplomatic treatment or some sort of elite treatment. I'm sure the authorities in Antigua would not allow any leaders of any country to slept on the floors. also the leaders of any country most times fly first class and if they have to transit they would be in a different lounge from regular passengers. So I don't understand how his words are taken out of context.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands. (24/01/2023, 15:09) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Even if it was true that our Premier slept on the Airport Terminal floor in Antigua, which I truly doubt is true, this should not have been a topic issue brought to light for political exposer sake. But if it did happened my recommendation is that in order to avoid such a shameful exposer, a charter plane should have been urgently hired to solve the problem.

    I too, like most of us do, don't agree with Cindy's outragous behaviours. I thing most of the times she needs to wear a muzzle. Maybe that may help.

    Note. Political opinions differ, but hate could be deadly.

  • Come along way (24/01/2023, 15:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you was here for Irma sleeping on a floor was minor. So even though a 3 peace suit is on we know the hard life also.
  • smh (24/01/2023, 15:48) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Buy that woman a muzzle.
  • #@@ (24/01/2023, 16:12) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it really happened, it just reminds us that he hasn't changed. Not to big to sleep on the floor. We didn't have to pay for that. HATS OFF TO HIM!! This woman should be ashamed of herself. Always looking for problem, and the same kind of people continues to follow her nonsense. Sickening.
  • time will tell (25/01/2023, 11:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I really hope this girl don't waste her money come nomination day.
  • respect (25/01/2023, 13:20) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    To whom it may concern. Please get the big picture. hhmm he is the Premier he don't have to sleep on the floor anymore, maybe in the future but right now he's not a regular passenger. Believe it or not, he's your leader, the head of these beautiful islands whether you like it or not. Nothing gonna change that. Even if he ain't get a second term, he's still gonna be in our history books. It's his time to shine. He up there now. He make a name for himself in a positive way. Johnny just come ain't deh yet or even half quarter way through deh yet so leave the Premier alone.


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