Premier dubbed a ‘political sniper’ for recruiting key Opposition members
Talk show host Claude Skelton Cline has described Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley as a “political sniper,” arguing that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) leader is demonstrating sharp political instincts as his administration continues to absorb key figures from across the political divide.
Speaking on a recent airing of his Honestly Speaking radio show, Skelton Cline suggested that while the Premier can be criticised on economic performance, his ability to outmanoeuvre opponents politically is becoming increasingly evident.
“You could accuse him of having the country economically constipated [saying] there is no movement,” Skelton Cline said. “But he is proving to be a political sniper. That guy can pick ’em off. He’s a sharpshooter, and you gotta give him credit for that.”
The comments come against the backdrop of a series of high-profile political realignments that have strengthened the governing Virgin Islands Party while thinning the ranks of the opposition. Former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith crossed the floor to join the VIP in 2023, a move widely seen as a major blow to the opposition. More recently, veteran legislator Julian Fraser also aligned himself with the government benches, further consolidating the Premier’s parliamentary position.
Adding to that momentum, former opposition member Stacy Mather has now joined the VIP, a development that Skelton Cline referenced as evidence of deliberate and coordinated political strategy at the highest level. While acknowledging that others may have helped to “architect” some of these moves, the radio host maintained that it ultimately fell to the Premier and his senior team to “close the deal.”
Speculation has also intensified around whether the Premier is seeking to bolster the party’s slate further ahead of the next general election. Political observers have been buzzing about the possibility that the government’s climate change envoy, Dr Kedrick Pickering, could be enticed to contest under the VIP banner — a move that would add another experienced figure to the party’s ranks.
Although the Premier is being praised for his strategic moves, some sections of the community may disagree with the “political sniper” label being applied to him, arguing that while the leader may be effective in consolidating support, his administration has fallen short in addressing everyday concerns such as deteriorating road networks, unreliable utilities, and other failing infrastructure.
Others have also raised concerns about the handling of the economy, saying rising living costs and limited economic momentum suggest the VIP government has not adequately responded to the financial pressures facing residents, despite some political successes.
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Natalio is no sniper. Those opposition members he picked off are just weak minded people.
bunch of weaklings. he could prolong how he want until education or communication takes him down.
Lorna would do anything for power. She came to vip right after election because she wanted big position. She went back over for junior minister after being fired because she knows that Sowande is lazy and would give her free rein with everything which she has now.
Fraser longed for power and prestige. He also wants to retire with the highest salary possible to get a good payout when he leave politics.
Mather got promised Sharie’s job. He was picked off to keep Sharie in line. He got used and will continue to be.
All of them were power hungry and that got used against them to control them.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways and should never be trusted….
I sure CSC is waiting to be offered a contract where he would get paid and do no work. That would make him a full VIP mascot.
Add Dean to the list. Look how they shut him up with a job. All weak people with no backbone and conviction. It is all about themselves and what they could get. You don’t have to do much sniping to get self absorbed people to move in your direction.
The VIP put Dean the sports man on the nipples
All of them must GO
keep trying
Our master , is saying )> so YA’AL just finding out , and ya ain’t seen nuttin yet •¿•, leh me just touch this ting here
Premier large and in charge.
All 3 opposition members who went to vip did so for their own personal benefit. It had nothing to do with country. If people have greedy minds you simply flash things in front of their faces.
WELL IF ITS THE FACTS, THEN WE GOT GIVE THE ” BIG YOUTH ” CREDIT FOR EXPOSING THE , HYPOCRITES , AND AS THE OLD SAYING GOES – ” ” BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER , FLOCK TOGETHER ” ❤️
Political sniper? He needs to concentrate on the real work of the Premiership. The bottom has really fallen out of this place. I don’t recognise my country anymore. It is so sad. So many things need attention. Immigration and Labour is becoming a serious issue. Lots of people loitering around Town, around the bars, supermarkets all day and most are not local. I can remember the days when persons drank in the afternoon after work, but it seems that rum is now a breakfast drink.
Wondering what is causing so many instances of cancer in this little country. I know that stress is a killer, so more have to be done to assist with the level of goods and services in this country. Even fruits that are sourced locally you have to pay the price of blood for it. Let us as a people and as a Government show each other consideration and love. Once you love your neighbours and your people, your concentration will not be on self but on making life more progressive, happy and affordable for your people.
So he can snipe down these dusty, ugly roads; snipe down the high monthly rental bill by reopening the Complex; snipe some of those planned parties and build the senior home at Spooners. We have heard talk about a basket of goods that will be affordable to seniors and those in need or with low income especially and nothing else. So much to do, and nothing is being done.
They say he is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
If this is chess, I’ll stick with checkers.
Sports man Dean Smiling was pointing out all the short comings in the territory. Now they s**t him up … He no lomger sees these areas in the territory for impactful improvement
He had lost that vision
Money and power of positions will take over the will power of fickle minded men
Set of Jelly Fish men . I do not give Slowoneday wrong. Prey on the men to keep him in power Great chess player
“It’s better to be paid to keep quiet than to make noise for free”
THSFS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY HATE WALWYN , BECAUSE HE IS EXPOSING THEIR “RODEO” GAMES THAT THEY ARE PLAYING ON THE PEOPLE WITH TAXPAYERS MONEY AS A LUXURY ■ SOME USING THE WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTER / XENOPHOBIA AND THE BIBLE AS A FRONT BUT WHATS IN DARKNESS WILL COME TO LIGHT / BECAUSE THERE’S NO HONOR AMONGST CROOKS, ( ALL OF THEM WANTS THE LION’S SHARE AND WILL SAY OR DO A N Y T H I N G TO GET IT •
the sharpest political strategist of our generation
The Premier is not a sniper or sharpshooter, for he has a wide, wide target to shoot at. The opposition is weak, self-serving, craving for power, status , influence. The Opposition is a disloyal, disorganized, jelly-spine, prideless, untrustworthy, lot. Who contact whom? The opposition members too wanted to feed at the trough, the gravy train. The theory of the case is that opposition is weak, and self-serving.
He is a great political strategist..Why Sniper, and Clever?
Money cannot buy integrity !! Something a lot of the power hungry people has proven to put above the country
“ Doing it for country” over rated slogan