Dr Wheatley opposes At-Large only Premiers
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has rejected proposals for the Virgin Islands to adopt a system where only At-Large representatives can be chosen as Premier, warning that such a move would weaken the Westminster model of government.
Speaking during the House of Assembly’s debate on the Constitutional Review Commission’s report, Dr Wheatley said the suggestion amounted to trying to merge two very different systems of governance.
“The United Kingdom has been using the Westminster model for I’m sure hundreds of years… the leader of that party is the leader of the government. So if you want to do the Westminster model, look at what the United Kingdom does,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He added that mixing the system with a presidential model was unworkable.
“If persons want to vote directly for the leader of government, you have to introduce a presidential model… but trying to mix the presidential and the Westminster just can’t work,” Dr Wheatley argued.
The Premier’s remarks came as legislators considered proposals to revise how the territory elects its leaders. Some recommendations suggested restricting the premiership to At-Large members, who are elected by the entire territory rather than by districts.
Premier Wheatley said the move would undermine voters’ ability to decide through established party systems.
“The people chose. You think the people don’t know who the leader of the party is that they are voting for? You think they don’t know? They do know,” he insisted.
He pointed out that in past elections, residents have consistently shown political maturity in their decisions. “Our electorate is very intelligent… when a whole country comes together and decides they don’t want you in leadership, it has a reason for it,” Dr Wheatley explained.
Calls for reform of the At-Large system have surfaced before. The concept of electing all representatives at large was abandoned in 1954 after complaints that villages outside Road Town were neglected under that arrangement. Critics feared that At-Large-only leaders could again sideline smaller districts in favour of central areas.
Premier Wheatley echoed this concern, stressing that direct district representation remains vital. He pointed to historic leaders like H Lavity Stoutt, who, though elected from a district, also advanced national development.
“All representatives, whether district or At-Large, must be focused on national progress because you will not truly see progress in districts without institutions that will promote national progress,” Dr Wheatley said.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
LOL. He would not even get back his $1,000 deposit if he ran at large.
The Emperor Has No Clothes
You cling to Westminster like a holy creed,
but the mortar crumbles while the people bleed.
At-Large, district the names are the same,
while the hungry still suffer, and leaders play games.
“Unworkable mix!” you thunder and shout,
yet corruption and rot keep hollowing out.
You warn of models, of systems at war,
while the people demand what they’re dying for.
Tradition’s your cloak, resistance your shield,
but behind that mask lies power unsealed.
Every reform that could curb your reign,
you brand as “unfit” with rehearsed disdain.
Emperor’s “tradition,” you dress it as “law,”
but the cracks in your reasoning show what you saw:
not a clash of systems, not some great divide,
just the terror of the Emperor losing what power provides.
So speak of Stoutt and of noble aims,
but history burns with forgotten names.
Until true reform sets the people free,
Westminster’s chains are all we see.
Why don’t They allow this Premier to Write the Constitution himself? This Man is Opposing The Wishes of the People of this Territory. Isn’t This Dictatorship? This Person is Bad for this Territory.
Unless a Change is made, This Territory will be Doomed. The Sad Thing is, People like these Don’t see what they are doing. Poor BVI. Lord Send help.
Where are the Remnants of the Church in All this?
I will loathe any leader who readily bows to popular will when that will is untenable. The people may cry for rain, but a true leader must know when the roof cannot bear it. Leadership demands more than popularity, it demands discernment. A leader who yields to every cry risks collapsing the very roof he was entrusted to uphold.
Actually the Premier should be drawn from the At-large candidates. At least that position for now.
Dude gone from being the party premier to the reject premier.
seems he’s just opposing everything that will take him out of power or put a time limit on it
I agree with Sowande on this one. You can’t graft presidential limbs onto a parliamentary skeleton and expect it to walk straight.
I agree with Sowande on this one. You can’t graft presidential limbs onto a parliamentary skeleton and expect it to walk straight.
The Dictator would need more than 487 votes then.
Do we expect him to say anything different? it is not in his personal interest to accept what the people clearly want. This isnt about leadership not bowing to the popular. This isnt about oh it cant work. Because of course it can work. We do not have to fully Westminster copycats. We can create our own system that works for us! Rodney Skelton made a post showing a possible way it can work and it make sense to me. Westmister system is not great either. you ever see them in there hooting and hollering like children in a classroom? Waste of time. Person with most overall at large votes is temporarily designated as the Premier until the other 12 vote to confirm him including his own vote of course. He then chooses his Deputy from the other 3 at large, whether they are in his party or not. That person is designated as Deputy until the other 12 vote to confirm him. This still allows him the possibility of having someone from his party as Deputy. If no one else from his party won the at large then he must choose a deputy from another party who won at large, thus creating an even greater balance of leadership for the country and the people. At the end of the day the whole point is to benefit the best interests of the people. Checks and balances. The Premier and Deputy then decide on ministers which can also be District representatives or can all be from his party or split across parties. This isnt about traditional power. it is about productivity and the will of the people. It calls for a reset of our political thinking. Of course, NO power hungry elected official will want or promote this. So look out for all of those who oppose this!
When this guy was a big freedom fighter on the radio back in the day. He was ready to march and fight against any injustice. Oh boy how time has changed since he got into HOA with Power. He and Myron are using the Westminister model same system that they say are preventing the BVI from moving forward. My question is why have a constitutional review and the People are saying they want Term Limits and the Premier should be elected from At-Large. The people really don’t have a say because these crooked politicians still blocking and are against everything. Make it make sense, l am lost and that a reason, l am not going to the polls. Premier you drank the kool-aid