Be respectful! Premier scolds Mitch over ‘Head Coach’ comments
While addressing political jabs made towards the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) for which he is chairman, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley did not explicitly deny that his predecessor, former Premier Andrew Fahie, was consulted over the selection of Marieta Flax-Headley as the party’s Second District candidate.
However, he roundly rebuked her opponent — incumbent District Representative and Labour Minister Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull — over ‘disrespectful’ remarks the premier said Turnbull made about the matter recently.
Speaking at a Second District rally for Flax-Headley last evening, the VIP Chairman disputed that he was going down in the proverbial mud. However, he stressed the need for leaders to hold others accountable, even when it is uncomfortable. Dr Wheatley further credited his former teacher, Flax-Headley, with teaching him this important lesson.
Dr Wheatley, while highlighting his friendship with Turnbull, said he likes Turnbull as a person and would not let politics come between their friendship. However, he described Turnbull’s recent behaviour as creating a false narrative and lacking in respect.
“That is something I believe that [Turnbull] still has to learn; that it is important for us to be respectful,” the premier said. “And I have seen him disrespect the leader of his own party, in a way, in my view, that made me hang my head. We have to be respectful at all times.”
“Now, this is why I was extremely surprised, shocked, and appalled that he would create this false narrative,” the premier added. “That ‘who’ he’s calling the ‘head coach’ — which in my view is unnecessary. It’s unnecessary regardless of what has taken place; still be respectful.”
Fahie was nabbed last year after a months-long United States (US) Drug Enforcement Administration-led sting operation. The resulting indictment described Fahie as using the alias ‘Head Coach’ to disguise interactions with his alleged co-conspirators — former BVI Ports Authority Director, Oleanvine Maynard, and her son Kadeem ‘Blacka’ Maynard – as they allegedly made plans to secretly shepherd illegal drugs through the territory’s ports and pocket the proceeds.
Insulting to grown folks
Dr Wheatley slammed Turnbull’s suggestion that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) is still being controlled by Fahie, arguing that it was insulting to the intelligence of their supporters. “You going to talk to grown people,” he said, “grown people who have their own mind, who have their own principles, who have their own beliefs, who are independent in their thinking, and suggest that they are being controlled by someone else?”
He also accused Turnbull of using the former Premier’s misfortune against him. “Regardless of somebody else’s misfortune,” Dr Wheatley stated, “let us not use somebody’s misfortune as some type of platform to prop ourselves up. It is not nice and you don’t have to, for persons to support you, pull down anybody else.“
The premier argued that if Turnbull had represented his people well during his term in office and had done what he was supposed to do, this would be completely unnecessary since his constituents would have his back.
“You don’t have to pull down a soul. You don’t have to talk anything about a head coach,” Dr Wheatley stated. “You don’t have to try to connect Marieta Flax-Headley, a distinguished woman, a woman of class, a woman of integrity and suggest that she cannot make up her own mind.”
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
How do you disrespect a money laundering coke dealer!?
Kind of like charging Donald Trump with a bounced check when he pay off a porn star after cheating on his wife.
All this ‘surprise’ about others telling the truth bluntly is too much drama.
We need leaders to fix this mess. Please grow up!
I believe Natalio has amnesia…
This accidental Premier had never one day went to look for the former disgraced Premier
??????????
Even when not in power, head coach running the country. All the VIP people sold their souls to benefit from a greedy bill. That is why they found it so hard to speak up and stand up for the people’s interest. They were paid to keep their mouth shut and just follow the leader. None of them are fitting to serve the people. Only want to serve themselves. The ill of the society. This society needs to be cleansed from this ill in order to be healed completely. Headcoach not running the show for one party for sure.
HeadCoach wasnt respecful when he traded our country Pride for Cocaine and Money, While you Natalio was quiet…..
True. I want Mitch gone go bad
MITCH MUST GO!!!!!
The accidental premier speaks once again. Tomorrow he going to call it a mistake. How much longer father? Sigh
well Fahie needs her in the 2nd District to keep the * flowing, oh wait …, so a new candidate soon to come
It is very disheartening this political season especially seeing the VIP talk about past accomplishments they had nothing to do with and making failures successes. One of the most disheartening things is how they try to make that covid disaster a success.
They started out well closing the borders. But as soon as they fell to the pressures and open the borders ( weak leadership) everything collapsed and our people were dropping like flies. Clearly, it was a runaway train they couldn’t get back into control.
Also, they try to make Natalio’s stint as premier with Unity Government some triumph for our people. As Natalio had the portfolios of Natural Resources and Education it was a total disaster Education fell to an all-time low. He got nothing done.
As Preiemer that was another disaster, he gave away the water right to USVI and everything he does is without Accountability and in secrecy.
People open their eyes and see the game. The UK played the people terribly we need to know what happened the morning when the Unity Government was formed is it that some ministers cant hold ministries what.
Fahie is still running these muppets because he has stuff on them.
Of course they knew.
Get rid of the VIPERS
Mitch showing his true colors… is power hungry.
Why does our Government allows an ex convict person run for office?
Don’t bite your nose off to spite your face. Look at the BIG picture. These discussions about who we like and don’t like will never help us as a country.
Sometimes the person we don’t like is the very person that can get the job done. Look at what persons have done. Actions are more important than empty promises.
Giving a man a couple of dollars will never help that person become an independent person who can fend for themselves.
I can use the word “Misfortune” in a lot of applicable situations but saying what happened to the former premier was a misfortune – it does not sound right.
and not a moment too soon.
We deserve so much better than what’s on offer.
Rephrase, why does our VIP GOVERNMENT allow an ex convict to run for office. 1) maybe drew calling the shots. 2) maybe birds of a feather flock together. 3)maybe they blaming it on irma/covid.
This the same government that do things like give CSC contracts in return for no value (nothing to do with irma/COVID). WASTED thousands on empty barges instead of free border security from UK (nothing to do with irma/COVID), implement the greedy bill (nothing to do with irma/COVID), give away our water rights to usvi (nothing to do with irma), gave away thousands and thousands in grants to those who do not need it (nothing to do with irma/COVID).
Yet they saying, give us 4 more years because of Irma/COVID. PEOPLE EYES OPEN AND THEY SEEING!
That was no misfortune. The only misfortune is that he got caught. But when you go out of your way to deliberately engage in such acts then it is no misfortune. It is destiny that once you engage in such actions you will be caught some time.
Nor should he.
The VIP give OJ a f**e consultancy contract similar to CSC own
You ain’t see Natalio going defend HEAD COACH come hell or high-water.
I hope it is not true that members of that party did a ritual with the disgraced former Premier to win last election.
Maybe that is why they were and still are mute on his criminal acts.
You give respect you get respect and not to criminals who raped this country’s pocket with so many lives losses during the criminal activities.
Why would the pm make such a statement? He got to be crazy.
Agree
I want Perline beat this guy so bad
Nowhere in the Constitution does it prevent an ex-convict or someone charged with a crime from running unless it’s an election-related offense.
Yes, I know it’s dumb so hopefully it’s addressed in the Constitution Review because there’s no deterrent from committing a crime once or repeatedly.
He was convicted for thieving the government and tax payers hard owned dollars. In this place what’s wrong is right and what’s right is wrong. But birds of a feather folk together.
Be respectful to someone who almost sell out the country to cartels ?
I am respectful to the name Premiet but not to what this man did .
You have never once address the issue on behalf of the party . Yet you have the Gaul to used RESPECt you need to show respect to the voting population of the BVI by pulling your team from green
Grown people who have their own minds? Who can make their own decisions? Is that why under ‘Head Coach’ you guys were mute and now you talking too much? And I am not just talking about on the campaign trail. Everything in the Press is suddenly being answered since you became Premier. And you are quite intelligent and can sell ice to the Eskimos. So pray tell, were you in full agreement with the way things were going? No need to answer. The quietness in LEGCO for the first three years was deafening. Everybody moved in unison and it seemed like everything was done for the good of yourselves and your friends and supporters. So, please, pardon us if we use our own intelligent minds and vote you all out of our House. We love you, but not your actions. Repercussions are necessary. You all have children, except Sharie, you will fill her in, so you understand how necessary that is.
Further, we believe in God and using high science to win our elections doesn’t sit right. We plead the Blood of Jesus over these Virgin Islands that we love so much.
Boy you took the words outta my mouth ! – “Misfortune” – Sl** man showing his true self and doesn’t even realise it. “Misfortune” – using that word to support head coach for getting caught in a drug sting operation by the Feds makes us understand that Sl** man believes head coach was a good guy…. but he just got caught. This accidental leader is not the man for these times.
They like to have God’s name in their mouth to suit themselves but disobedient to his laws.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
Myron is before the court for thieving over a wall
There is a convict running on VIP’s ticket talk that
The young man was so disrespectful to Dr. Smith. I dont know why he is like this. coming from a Christian family.
It’s speaks to the lack of integrity by the Vip
The man named himself “Head Coach”. Now you claim people being disrespectful when they call him by his self proclaimed name. Boi guh siddown.
Which one of them has publicly denounced what the Head Coach has been arrested and charged with? Not one of them has come out and said that it is wrong and a disgrace. They sat quietly while he was in power and are still quiet right now in distancing themselves from him. That is why not one VIP candidate can get my vote! They all helped to bring this country to its knees! NO 2 VIP!
Respect is earned
The disgraced former Premier gave himself the title head coach.
Speaking your mind and holding people accountable, is deemed as disrespect?
QUESTION: Students what is the best way to prevent the head coach from running the country?
ANSWER: Go to the poles…