BVI News

Deputy Premier ashamed of complaining to past governor

Dr Wheatley

Deputy Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said he is ashamed of having complained to a former governor about a political grievance he (Dr Wheatley) held in the past.

Dr Wheatley, who was debating the government’s Integrity in Public Life bill during a virtual sitting of the House of Assembly yesterday, disclosed that he had gone on at least two separate occasions to complain about various issues. 

“The second one had to do [with]; I believe it was the BiWater case. And really, when I think back on it, I’m somewhat ashamed of myself for going to the governor to complain about anything that’s under the authority of our own local government,” the Deputy Premier said. 

Dr Wheatley expressed that, in the first instance, governors did not have the constitutional power to intervene in these areas. 

“These are areas which have been devolved to our local government and this whole idea of running to the governor every time we are displeased with some decision, we have to stop it,” the first-term legislator stated. 

Persons should repent for complaining to governor

Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley accused the immediate past governor, Augustus Jaspert, of using hearsay and gossip as a pretext for instituting a Commission of Inquiry in the territory.

“We have to stop looking to the governor to solve our problems as a people,” Dr Wheatley said. 

The legislator called it a travesty that persons would go to the governor to suggest that the sitting Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government be replaced.

“It’s a betrayal of democracy and a betrayal of the people of the Virgin Islands, and we cannot tolerate it. Those persons who were involved in such things, just repent, just repent of it and just say that’s not something that we should have done and let’s move forward,” Dr Wheatley said. 

He argued that there were several democratic tools at the disposal of residents to air their concerns, including public meetings, rallies, protests and elections among others. 

He said while the governor has a role to play, for the BVI, maturity as a people meant putting institutions in place which are accountable to the public. 

Share the news

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

21 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. heckler says:

    Speak to your boss Fahie because he was the one carrying news to the previous governor. He even went to the said governor to overthrow Fraser as leader of the opposition

    Like 34
    • me says:

      It’s not a betrayal of democracy to ask the governor for help if the local government is useless or corrupt. It’s a celebration of democracy since we voted for the people who agreed to have this system in place.

  2. last time representative says:

    BOY YOU GONE BECAUSE WE IN THE 7TH NO LONGER WANTS YOU TO REPRESENT US AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

    Like 30
    Dislike 1
    • Guess What? says:

      @last time representative, tell me exactly what you would have done differently in all the issues done by this government. Please outline them clearly so that people can decide whether to follow your lines of thoughts or not. Are you saying that this young man is not working hard? Are you saying he misappropriated government funds? Are you saying that his policy directions are inimical to the progress of this country? Are you saying he couldn’t articulate himself in public discuss or house debates? He is a first timer in the house. Are you so oblivious of the fact that he has matured so fast in the art of governance? I tend to think you are neither in 7th District not VIP voter. His Party members do not and will most unlikely subscribe to your misgivings provided he continues to work diligently with his team till the end of his term and he will get a resounding victory at the next election.

      Like 1
      Dislike 4
  3. Jack says:

    Hope smurf repent also

    Like 1
    Dislike 9
  4. PT09 says:

    Natalio Wheatley if you don’t have something constructive to say why don’t you just shut up.

    Like 21
    Dislike 1
  5. 7th says:

    We are ashamed of this guy

    Like 16
    Dislike 1
  6. Shame of you says:

    You and your gang are the ones who have this country where it is. For the sake of politics you ran down to the governor carry tales on the previous government that you were not true. Now you get the government you feeling the heat and want to repent after you done damage the names of good people and caused a COI in the country. The whole bunch of you all need to do the country a favor and just disappear.

    Like 16
    Dislike 1
  7. Anonymous says:

    We have this flawed mindset that foreign and white is better. We have them in such high esteem as if they are better and can do no wrong.

    Like 5
    Dislike 10
    • reader says:

      That’s pure racism right there. The color of th e skin of the governor makes difference. Do you seriously think a black governor would be any different? In the rest of the world it is the laws that control what people do, not their melanin.

  8. J says:

    I can support the notion of not running to the governor. However, we have seen time and again, complains being made publicly about the actions being taken by this government and they seem to have no regard for public outcry. By the time election comes around again and we vote them out, their pockets (like many in the past) would have been lined with the taxpayers’ gold (e.g. the Greedy Bill). That is the part that I have the issue with

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  9. Faker says:

    This man is a major disappointment. He was always talking about black liberation and now he admit that he used to go down to the governor carrying news on his black government members. You are fake! Only now because news getting carry on you now you talking.

    Like 13
    Dislike 1
    • Guess what? says:

      @J, How is he a fake? That he got to see a better picture of what governance is all about? This is the trouble with many of us. He had an initial oppinion before being voted into power but through the benefits of insights, he made constructive adjustments and did not shy away from telling the public. This young man would end up being one of the finest young Politician that this country would raise. Mr Wheatly, please focus on your Job. These are distractions. I salute your courage for carrying the public along in your learning curve

      Like 1
      Dislike 3
  10. Anonymous says:

    There, and that is where and how the quest to get pocket full of cookies began. What a crying shame…. Those that came before did, so can i.

    BVI is lacking leaders of integrity and morals.

  11. Ki says:

    Karma is a b**ch. Good lesson. Never throw peppers in eyes o your neighbors. May the governor records all you .

  12. Sick of them says:

    Bingo! The truth finally come out of their mouths. Look at this! Going down to the governor carrying tales. You people are the worst.

  13. POWER says:

    SNITCHING is a tool used to get it one way or the other

  14. Embarassment says:

    This is the same type of snitching that happened on the plantation. And you held yourself out as someone who knew and understood history. All this anti colonial talk was just talk. Look at you running to the colonial masters carrying news on your country men. I don’t even know what else to call you. The biggest insulting word would still be insufficient.

  15. Well says:

    This is a good start, but all others that did the same thing need to repent as well.

  16. Ok truth says:

    It takes a big man to concede when he is wrong

Leave a Comment