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‘We can't allow politics to destroy us’- Premier warns HoA for 2024

Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has warned that for the House of Assemble to advance the cause of the Virgin Islands, legislators must not allow politics to cause them to fight and make VI seem more vulnerable than it already is. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier called on legislators to be constructive in how they deal with those disagreements and to have principle in handling the affairs of the House. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier called on legislators to be constructive in how they deal with those disagreements and to have principle in handling the affairs of the House. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - [British] Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has warned that for the House of Assembly (HoA) to advance the cause of the Virgin Islands, legislators must not allow politics to cause them to fight and make the VI seem more vulnerable than it already is.

“We have to be careful of politics or what politics has become because politics will make you minimise the good and maximise the bad, will make you minimise strengths and exacerbate what you see as deficiencies,” he said.

The Premier was at the time speaking during the December 19, 2023, Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.

“Politics will allow people who are otherwise honest [to] sometimes be disingenuous. You know, politics will allow persons who are friends and family to otherwise be harmful to each other."

He said in this period in VI history legislators cannot allow politics to destroy us, "and we cannot allow politics to make us even more fragile and vulnerable than we already are, especially at a critical juncture in the history of our Virgin Islands.”

VI has 'huge battle' on hands- Premier 

“At this present time we have a huge battle on our hands and to be successful in this battle, we need unity and it doesn't mean that we will not have disagreements among ourselves,” he further added.

The Premier called on legislators to be constructive in how they deal with those disagreements and to have principles in handling the affairs of the House. “We must join hands and hearts and efforts and we must fight to preserve these Virgin Islands,” he said. 

Throughout 2023, both government and opposition legislators, including the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Stacy. A. Mather (AL), have called for more unity in the House of Assembly and for legislators to not allow politics to derail the House. 

The Premier’s warning came as he reminded that an Order in Council for the UK to suspend the VI’s constitution was still "hanging over" the territory.

29 Responses to “‘We can't allow politics to destroy us’- Premier warns HoA for 2024”

  • hey again (02/01/2024, 12:47) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
    The roads…fix them.
  • Time for change (02/01/2024, 12:54) Like (34) Dislike (1) Reply
    Politics is eating the average citizen alive. The bad decisions that legislators make on our behalf have taken us to places we never imagined that we would have the misfortune of winding up. The sad part is that there seems to be no end in sight. Mr. Premier, please encourage your colleagues to put country/territory before self then lead by example. Too many of you are underperforming and refuse to hear the cries of the people.
    • Agreed BUT (02/01/2024, 14:30) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      It’s not so much the bad decisions. We all make them from time to time. As individuals, we hopefully learn from them or keep repeating them and face the consequences financial or otherwise. IMHO, the real issue has been the steadfast refusal by the govt to learn from the mistakes they have made without facing much in the way of consequences since costs are borne by the public purse. There’ll be no meaningful change until that changes.
  • Strupes (02/01/2024, 12:55) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    PURE OLD TALK
  • stop it! (02/01/2024, 13:16) Like (38) Dislike (2) Reply
    Stop talking s**t, stop travelling the world, and sort out the roads, sewers, drainage, and power station.
    • resident (02/01/2024, 14:18) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
      for real, them pot holes up east end is a crime, he should be ashamed that his district is so bad
  • too late (02/01/2024, 13:35) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Too late Buddy.
  • YAWN (02/01/2024, 13:40) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    C R I M E & lawlessness is what is destroying us!!!
    • Gary Oak (02/01/2024, 15:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Say it louder for the sk*nts in the back
    • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (03/01/2024, 02:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ Yawn:
      Yawn, You said it right,. Lawlessness is, in fact, another word that apply to disloyalty against God and humanity, especially the deliberate practice of willful misdeeds, political and otherwise.
      Our Premier is only playing mind games, as if he doesn't fully knows that wrong practices of political misrepresentation of his office duties are distructive setbacks against the majority of the people of the BVI, including he and his family's ultimate best interest.
      This I do know as many people worldwide also know for sure, that in a competitive race against time, time ultimately wins, but to the contrary, greed and likewise straits may or may not experience sorrowful regret prior to destructive consequences, if honest soul-searching is ignored.
  • good start (02/01/2024, 14:20) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Permit me to say, most respectfully, that I admire-

    1. That you finally recognise and put first things first- Jesus Christ
    2. The photo in this article; something about it still speaks

  • WHAT!!! (02/01/2024, 14:25) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    “We can’t allow politics to destroy us”
    Don’t worry you politicians are doing a great job already.

  • Fix the road (02/01/2024, 15:05) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the main chorus that is heard in these islands today. There are some potholes in Fat Hogs Bay close to the Premier's home that can literally swallow a small vehicle. Premier this is what is destroying us. Too many mechanical bills to repair damage caused to our vehicles by the terrible roads that no one in authority seem to care about. A few nights ago because of the traffic I ended up severely damaging my vehicle when it fell into one of these foot deep pot holes with a severe blow to the chassis and underneath the vehicle. There must be some coordinated program of road maintenance that gives priority to these severely dangerous road conditions....it makes it look like no one cares and that we are a bunch of idiots. Is there anyone in the territory who can do a proper job of filling pot holes and not fill some leave some. Stop making people angry with this cycle of bullshit is a good place to start.
  • WEW (02/01/2024, 15:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    You're doing a great job at it !
  • Really (02/01/2024, 15:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You say this with your purple tie for loyalty to the devil Wow. You destroyed us already by selling your people out for money. How many souls you gave to get your position?
  • Jesus offers redemption, if we approve. (02/01/2024, 19:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Jesus can fix our problems. Wrong Political, social, spiritual, emotional, mental, educational, economical, philosophical, and medical practices cause division among people worldwide. The BVI is no exception.
    Until then your blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Don't make any sense, dollars yes, but sense, none.
  • Rattler (02/01/2024, 21:01) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Politics is about debate, debate, push and pull,opposition positing its point view/philosophy, government posting its point of view, etc. Both government and opposition wants the same thing for the territory but they have different approaches to delivering. Voters decide which view/approach they want. Rarely, does government and opposition hold hand and sing kymbuya, but the debate must go on ; it is good for democracy. The premier is too thin skin and must develop kin like an old wife fish. He should not let himself our government be swift boated but must shed the practicing about responding to every little critcism with little to no merit. Politics is not for the weak of heart or for those who want to be liked by everyone. That is an impracticality and impossibility. The Premier should talk less and let performance speaks. As he likes to say watch me work. Do the work.
    • Bush Professor (03/01/2024, 12:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      To Rattler, you striking, striking, and striking with a a good political read. It is good political advice for the Premier and other politicians. And it is free advice. Life is learning from our experiences and from the experiences of others.. Will the Premier and other politicians learn from and leverage the free advice given. Political elections are a popularity contest, Peter Princiling, Cowboying/Cowgirling nuff people., etc. The bottom line is that politicians falsely believe that the experts in every damn thing but don’t know pullet from fowl on many things yet pretend they do. The civil servants who are the engine, the fuel that drives government and are experts in governing and public affairs but politicians are too pompous and too proud to listen to their advice. Instead , cast them aside. Fact: The current government is a ‘Green’ team. Experience cannot be bought; it is gotten by doing the time, listening to others that travel down the rock road. You heard, you hear what I’m saying. Bush professor out.. Fight on ole Morgan Grizzly . It is on!


      Manda School Alumni
      • @Professor (04/01/2024, 08:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        To Professor, good read. But educate me, for I’m a duncy head on politics and political terms. What is Peter Principling, Cowboying/Cowgirling? Yes, politicians think they know every damn thing but know little to knowing jack. They fool off enough of us with political patronage to stay in power. We look the otherwa out of self-interest and ignore the underperformance by the do nothings.
        • Bush Professor (05/01/2024, 14:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          To @Professor:
          1. Peter Principled: Promoting someone from a level of competence to a level of incompetence.
          2. Cowboys/Cowgirls: competent employees, but only want to do things their way. They are unable or unwilling to take direction and believe their way is the only way to do things. Show off. ostensible, arrogant.
  • Local Brother (02/01/2024, 22:41) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Meanwhile the victimization still continues out in the public.
  • long look (03/01/2024, 01:53) Like (0) Dislike (8) Reply
    He will win again in d 7
    • @Long Look (04/01/2024, 23:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      are you trying to poll.He asked for his another chance and he got it. Envelopes wont work next time.
  • PHD (03/01/2024, 06:14) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Danger, Beware of PhD's playing political games
  • @ Jesus offers redemption (03/01/2024, 12:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Name one country on the planet where your pie in the sky bulls*** works. If the truth be told it's the most deadly weapon that has been used to create the catastrophe that the world is facing. Everything about Christmas and Good Friday are the real blah blah blah. The world has no place for the @$£ Clown Brigade. Go find yourself.

  • Hmm (03/01/2024, 21:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ fix the road.. Yes, I agree the potholes need to be repaired. But how many times that particular area has been repaired? Yes, there needs to be proper drainage.. But when are we going to hold each other responsible? Why are residents running their wastewater into the street? What is the Town and Country Planning doing about it? Or the other relevant agencies? It's always the politicians being blamed—a thankless job. We need to shift the narrative and be accountable as citizens.. This is our home.
  • Puppet (04/01/2024, 09:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Our Premier is being puppeted. He is not in control of anything and that is so sad. He doesn't even understand that he is selling us all out, including himself. Sad, sad day in the BVI


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