Premier clarifies ’rise up’ call against governor’s powers
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has clarified his controversial call for Virgin Islanders to “rise up” against proposals to give the governor more powers over local law enforcement agencies, saying it was a call to defend the territory’s democratic rights, not an invitation to violence.
The clarification came during the inaugural airing of Virgin Islands Voice, a government-led live broadcast that allows residents to speak directly with ministers. Dr Wheatley addressed public concerns over his recent remarks in the House of Assembly that urged people to “rise up” against certain recommendations in a UK-backed law enforcement review.
“The people must rise up, but they must basically stand up for the principles that we all believe in, which is our own self-determination,” Dr Wheatley explained. “I’m not speaking about violence. I’m not speaking about anything like that. Please don’t get that type of thing confused.”
The Premier said the report—part of a review process launched after the 2022 Commission of Inquiry—contains both positive and concerning recommendations. While the government supports improvements to the justice system, it opposes proposals that would centralise power under the governor by removing key responsibilities from elected officials.
“There are recommendations in the law enforcement review that we don’t agree with,” he said. “And I made this very clear to the Governor.” He added, “I’ll make it very clear to the Minister for the Overseas Territories, or the Foreign Secretary or any representative of the UK government.”
He stressed that the National Security Council, which includes elected members and the governor, is already reviewing many of the recommendations.
“We support most of the recommendations,” the Premier said. “There are a few that are regressive, which would actually be taking powers from elected representatives and placing them in the hands of the governor. We don’t agree with those.”
Dr Wheatley encouraged residents to make their views known through democratic means. “This is something that we have to assert ourselves in speaking up about and making it very clear,” he said. “We want to continue on the path of self-determination, and we don’t want our rights to be taken away.”
The law enforcement review proposes placing the Customs, Immigration, and the Financial Investigation Agency under the Governor’s control—a move the Premier believes undermines the territory’s progress toward greater self-governance.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Wheatley said “stand up for the principles that we all believe in, which is our own self-determination”. I am fed up with him assuming we all want the same things he does. We don’t!!!
When S!0wW@nde and the A$$c!0wn Brigade repeal the greedy bill and take Head Coach picture of the wall I will consider what he has to say. Until then they are all corrupt in my view
Immigration and Customs are administered by the Federal government of the USA NOT local elected politicians. So what is the problem? Border security by the mother country is much more competent and should be embraced by the BVI.
Do you want your mother or neighbor to come lock your door and secure your premises every night? NO.
Is that the American Premier. When he finish mashing up our country he could go the US where he was born.
Against the corrupt politicians & criminals running the BVI!
If you don’t mean “rise up “ but mean “stand up “ then why not say “stand up” ???
What the BVI need to rise up against are the following:
1. VIP government giving out thousands of dollars to students for scholarships and they never put foot in a University.
2. Thousands given to individuals for fishing and farming and they never plant a cassava or pull a barracuda from the cove
3. Thousands paid out to members of Boards who have no clue about the role they were placed ( position for votes) not skills for the job
4. Thousands paid out to individuals who are given jobs because of affiliation through
Party politics/ race/ nationality/ last name/ social standing
5 Thousands paid paid out to politicians while pensioners scrape by on an ailing fixed income
6. Thousands given back to the Treasury while elderly/ vulnerable/ and hurting families are denied a cheque from Social Development
7. Millions paid out in rent while the Complex is taking longer to repair that the time it took to build
8. The lack of consumer cap on good at the supermarket and hardware stores.
9. The HR , Permanent secretary, and badminded , prejudice, racist
People who insult, abuse , mislead, and disrespect prople od different nationalities when they go to them for interviews, or need their service
10. Those are the tip of the issues we need to rise up aganist
I find it quite interesting with this Article.
Suddenly, each Statement is saying “WE” and my
amazement is: How comes all of a sudden it’s WE.
What with the Big change? Mister Premier you will do
or say anything to hold on to Power and I don’t mean
Violence either BUT Your only concern is holding on to Power. If you should claim otherwise, then I would encourage you to request fresh Elections and let the Chips fall where they may But at this time, I would NEVER encourage anyone to join forces with you against the UK nor anywhere or one else for that matter. POWER CORRUPTS!!!!
It’s not an issue of independence but security and tge rule of law. These should be assigned to those who would uphold and enforce them, aren’t against our recent elected governments.
The premier say we should rise up. Should we rise up for the unemployed in the BvI. What about those with no food. What about rising up to repeal the greedy bill which does not benefit the public but portray the government as dictators who only lookout for their own pocket their families and their cronies. Should we rise up for the $20 million missing from the treasury. Should we rise up for the deplorable state of the 7th district where your own constituents cannot eat, have jobs and the kids have to sell drugs in order to survive and the women have to do prostitution when they can’t feed their children. Should bvislanders rise up when only 26% of us are employed in the workplace and when we ask elected members to help us become gainfully employed either they ignore you, insult us or act like it falls outside of their portfolio. Should we rise up when we don’t have the democratic right to voice our opinion about how the government is treating us. And I can go on and on and on……..