Friday the 13th now has positive meaning in BVI
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley. Photo by GIS
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stated that Friday the 13th will stand as a defining moment — transforming a date often associated with superstition into one of national pride and democratic resilience for the BVI.\
The leader was referring to Friday, March 13, 2026 – the day the UK officially lifted the controversial Order in Council that once threatened to suspend the territory’s democracy. Speaking last week in the House of Assembly, Dr Wheatley described the moment as one that must be etched into the territory’s national memory.
“This event took place on Friday the 13th… a day that will be easy to remember,” the Premier said, noting that the symbolism of the date adds to its historical weight.
The lifting of the Order in Council follows years of political tension between the UK and BVI after the findings of the 2022 Commission of Inquiry, which had recommended sweeping governance reforms and raised the possibility of direct rule by the United Kingdom.
Pushback against blogger
During his address, Premier Wheatley pushed back at criticism from the weekly blog The Friday Sage, which he said characterised him as “Goliath beating his chest” just a day after the Order in Council was lifted.
“Unfortunate, regrettable, but emblematic of the challenge that we must overcome as a people on our journey to nationhood. How we understand ourselves, how we tell the Virgin Islands story. How we cooperate with each other, to meet our national goals,” Dr Wheatley said. He added that instead of Goliath, he sees himself as David — the biblical character who defeated Goliath.
“I have always seen myself as a David fighting against Goliath,” he told legislators. “And the Virgin Islands itself has always been a David fighting against Goliath. That is the essence of the Virgin Islands story.”
He argued that the threat of the Order in Council also represented a modern-day “Goliath,” recalling that some individuals lost faith in the elected government and had even supported leadership being handed over entirely to the Governor.
Despite the dissent, Dr Wheatley used the moment to call for greater unity and self-definition among Virgin Islanders, particularly as the territory continues what he described as a “journey to nationhood.” And he stressed the importance of documenting moments like these in the territory’s annals so the story can be told from the perspective of the Virgin Islands.
“Until lions tell their own stories, the hunt will always be glorified,” he said.
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Nonsense. Friday the 13th still has the same negative connotation. There is absolutely nothing to celebrate about the lifting of the COI. It is this very same government whose reckless and callous behaviour of victimization and corruption and bad spending and warring with the Governor that caused the COI in the first place. All the green flags and eerie symbols popping up due to work with an African witch doctor. We have not forgotten! Your childish belligerent behavious when being questioned helped to prolong the darned COI and threatened our very country. Nothing to celebrate here!
well said. say it again and again.
ALL THIRTEEN SHOULD GO!
Friday the 13th isn’t just a date on the calendar here in the BVI—it feels like a daily reality under this administration.
What may seem symbolic or even trivial to some is, for many of us, a constant struggle. Hardworking citizens are facing rising bills and taxes imposed by this government, while trying to make ends meet and put food on the table. At the same time, there is growing frustration that the UK appears indifferent to the challenges BVIslanders are facing—turning a blind eye to issues like unchecked increases in government pay (3x)their current salary and unresolved financial controversies such as the Asia bank debacle. The fact is the UK want BVIslanders phased out and you only care about your pocket and that of your cronies. You and the uk government are a match made in hell.
From where many of us stand, it feels as though the people of the BVI are being sidelined in their own country, while others come in and thrive. Meanwhile, responsibility is deflected, with blame placed elsewhere especially at the UK rather than accountability being taken.
These have been “MISSING’ for more than a decade..
HIDING, SELF ENRICHMENT, CORRUPTION, MISMANAGEMENT = NO AUDITED ACCOUNTS!
@ GOVERNOR => ARE YOU GOING TO ASK FOR THESE ANY TIME SOON?
This man believes the people of the territory are so stupid he can pull wool over our eyes
Yeah 23 all must vacate alright.
friday thirteenth is the day the bvi stayed under Order in Council