PREMIER: Former Opposition leader has a heart for BVI
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has heaped praise on former Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton, stating he never had to question the senior leader’s patriotism for the Virgin Islands.
Premier Wheatley made the comments while drawing a comparison between Skelton’s leadership and that of current Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn, who recently said the BVI should not have accepted the United Kingdom’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations in 2022. Walwyn argued that accepting the recommendations opened the door to a new report that labels local law enforcement agencies as corrupt.
But Premier Wheatley, who served as the territory’s leader at the time the COI report was issued, has rejected the blame placed on him by Walwyn, stating the remarks were inappropriate for someone holding the post of Opposition Leader.
He further suggested that such a statement would not have been made by Ronnie Skelton if he were in that position.
“The Leader of the Opposition post is a serious one and who am I to tell members who should sit there? I have to give Honourable Ronnie Skelton credit because when he was in the post, while he might put some blows on me here and there and he might correct me here and there, I never had a doubt in my mind that he always put country first,” the Premier said.
“I recognize true patriotism in him and it’s the same patriotism I recognize in Honourable Julian Fraser,” Dr. Wheatley added.
His subsequent remarks touched on the idea of “legacy,” which he said has been passed down from the BVI’s “foreparents” who faced similar threats, referring to the new UK report on local law enforcement.
Walwyn is considered a first-generation Virgin Islander and not an indigenous Virgin Islander with deep ancestral ties, unlike some of his political colleagues.
Nevertheless, the Premier described Walwyn’s comments as political and emphasized the need for unity among elected leaders in facing the current challenges.
“At the end of the day, all of us who are elected have to lock arms and fight this threat together,” he said.
However, Premier Wheatley was careful to clarify that he does not harbor animosity toward individuals without deep ancestral roots in the BVI. Instead, he called for a shared national identity.
“When I attend naturalization ceremonies, I tell people not to say they are getting their papers for the BVI. I tell them it’s more than getting papers and not paying work permit fees anymore. You are joining a family and tradition. You may have had a home before, but now you have another home that you have to defend,” Wheatley stated.
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Give me a break. It was clear to see from the last HOA that both Marlon and Ronnie are teaming up with Natalio against
Myron. They are like a set of children. Natalio doesn’t want to have to deal with Myron as opposition leader because he wouldn’t be getting away like how he was with Skelton. He played Skelton on the vote of no confidence and every thing else. Now they are holding hands and singing kumbya in their hatred for Myron. It is obvious.
Premier playing chess, he know Hon. Walwyn is a capable opponent and if he can put together a Team could be serious challenge to his premiership. Hon. Walwyn has the grassroots behind him and has the experience ans skill to navigate the process to get things done. As a Business owner he knows what results looks like and the process to achieve results.Like Trump the populance does not care if he has been indicted (they see it as witch hunt vs any serious corruption) The Premier has in the past displayed a tendency to be disloyaly to hold on to the Premiership (Unity party) so it remains to be seen if he has developed as a leader to understand that one of the most important competencies of Leadership is loyalty. Thus far he has demonstrated that he has learned but lets see where this leads because Hon.Skelton wants to leave on a high note like the Liberator and wont come over unless he has an important position. Who will the Premier sacrifice??
I hope you are being paid to go from story to story defending the Alliance. It’s getting a bit tiring now.
Common sense and good judgment is its own reward
And you are not being paid as well? So, only you and your xenophobic group must show support. All ayo just bad minded.
Of course S!0wW@nde will speak up for Skeletor. He is the same bigot and xenophobe as Skeletor. Two books with the same content and cover
Yes, he praised Skelton as a patriot right after he made comments to make Myron feel like he didn’t belong. He never condemned those statements but instead praised the maker of them.
“You can’t tell me what to do in his house anymore”. Those were Skelton’s words to Myron. Therefore, it is clear that Myron’s used to be telling Skelton what to do when he was opposition leader.
Who died and left Natalio in charge to call out who iid patriotic and who isn’t? Who does he think he is. He read the Wired’s of the Territorial song in his diatribe. I wonder if he remember that it was Myron who made sure we had a territorial song.
Although there was a better preferred one but we understand why the one was chosen (no pun intended on the authors at all because it’s also a good song).
If Xenophobia was a person it would be Ronnie Skelton. This man allegedly dislikes people from the Caribbean islands. He has disdain for Myron because he should not be in those positions because his parents are not from here. That little exchange in the HOA recently told me all I needed to know about Ronnie.
Both Skeletor and S!0wW@nde are bigots. Who is worse the murderer or the enabler? Hmmmm
if you go dig it up history would show that Ronnie employed many persons from the Caribbean; he has many friends all over the Caribbean so saying things to bring out that doesn’t like Caribbean people is hogwash. Know the man to know him.
I don’t know what heart he could have for us when I haven’t seen him once since election. You call him he doesn’t answer or return the calls. He has done nothing whatever since he was elected. Like zero. Let him be patriotic at home. It’s time for him to go
Believes he is better than everyone yet wants common peoples votes.
Look MR. ENTITLEMENT.
This Administration is a pre school
Day care
Damn right such a statement would not have been made by Ronnie Skelton, because he would be asleep and very lethargic, Myron and the alliance are awoke and championing the fight for the BVI cause, and you natalio don’t want to look funny as the leader who move with alacrity to accept whatever the UK said just to be confirmed as premiere in his haste that Andrew is dethrone by the FBI which gives him an opportunity to grab power, he was even expressing his nostalgic emotions that his grandfather got power in the same way and now the grandson, it wasn’t about looking out for the BVI interest, it was power at all cost as you see he did with lorna a and Fraser. Ronnie will accept that pat on the he back under the indigenous support clique but should have shouted hell no! I would have been vocal as Myron is right now.judt that sowandie is hiding his destructive guilt for power that landed the BVI people I’m further antagonisms with the UK.
and i quote “I can’t pass laws to protect bvislanders”
He only happened to be dropped out here….He is not ONE AH WE
A FOREIGNER SHOULD’VE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO RUN FOR POLITICS IN THE BVI MUCHLESS HOLD A SEAT SUCH AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
@ bottom line , you sound like a real bottom h—le , tek your head from deh
The Leader of the Opposition was born here; the Premier was not.
Where is Slow man birth right isn’t he American.
Hon. Mr. R. Skelton is a very responsible gaurdian and caring angel of the people who lives a heart of mercy.
Indeed, there are many adults alive today who were once little children, who WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY, praise the Lord, were it not for the immediate decisions made by the human Ronnie Skelton decades from the position God had placed him in..
Speak ill of him or whatever, because you do not know the real him.
Moreover,the Lord and a mentally ill lady once coined the true phrase, “who know, and who don’t will wonder.” Still true today.
Never use mere impressions and words driven jealousy to judge and speak ill of any person. Get driven by facts.
Mic drop!!!
All I want to know is where is Ronnie Mother and Father from? Skelton??? I never heard him talk about them
Where are they from???
I see a bad minded man who is xenophobic sorry.
He masked up NDP because he loss the internal elections. He went back to NFP because he lost the leader of the opposition post and dissolve PVIM without telling the members that he did that.
He used xenophobic remarks in the House of Assembly against another member.
He was terrible leader of the opposition.
I have seen all I need to see so don’t come on here trying to defend your do nothing friend or family member. All of what I have said is true so who are seeking to describe is not Ronnie Skelton.
Where you and your parents from, hayre? Why even question that?
Do you know Tola when there was one old main street.?
If so, you might have spoken to and knew his parents. You could’ve asked them.
Do you know Tola before a highway? Do you know the current highway was once ocean?
You would/might’ve have known their where froms either way, but why should that be of anyone’s concern?
Lowness for the sake of being low on behalf of being hatful and ignorant should be an arrestable crime.
Dem think only Myron parents ain’t born here, it only personal when it comes to Myron, Little girl Ronnie didn’t know all the time who Myron is??
Move yuh lying self from here. Myron never said that. And even if he did can the government go in the House and pass laws for BVIslanders only? Do you remember ring fencing in financial services? While you are trying to promote a lie you still can’t see the folly in what you are saying.
Thr premier realized if he futher divide the support base of PVIM , NDP and the Alliance ( what a ting) he will win hands down next election cycle
This division has to stop to get out natalio and his team. It is unhealthy for the country .
It breaks down families that intermarry
It build walls
People only tolerate each other
No real concern for others
This is terrible
”
“Divided and conquer tatics by Natalio,” maybe, but certaily one of the ancient tools still in use by the UK against the Black race by whites to this very moment.
You could see party all over Wheatley face!! , that’s all he could do, but he can’t manage he real party responsibilities.
Neither Lorna nor Mather were born here in the BVI and have no ancestral ties to the BVI and no one is tearing them down like how we are destroying Hon. Walwym for been born here to expat parents. My God let’s stop this senseless divide man. We all need everyone to stand up against the big UK system. Let’s stop it man, it’s not looking good on the regional and international stage, and also the other races here are laughing at us. We are black people for God sake. LOVE ONLY❤️
‘’Myron not from here” is the only thing these mediocre ‘’from here” politicians and their supporters have to try keep him down with. They don’t even care if what they saying is factual or not once it can serve their purpose. I not surprised the premier preferred Skelton as opposition leader because Skelton wasn’t a threat to him politically. He done realize he could run circles around Skelton. As I see it Myron have more sense than most of them in there in hoa. He show up to work in a room where most of them accustomed to just sitting down doing nothing barely say anything go along with whatever don’t read the legislation they voting on properly then collect big salary and pension and feel important, travel and make speeches while actually doing nothing for the bvi. He making all the incompetent do nothings in there feel a type of way cause they didn’t plan on having to do any work or having their inadequacies pointed out publicly and eloquently. Like geh his tall ball head ms from being here showing people what a real leader is supposed to be and making everybody else who is not that look bad.
This accidental man of A leader is nothing but a but hole. Ronnie led a no confidence of leadership against you now you hear talking piss. People of the BVI wakeup Ronnie is some one I respect until he said what he said it can’t be taken back. Where Lorna born, where Slomanborn come stop this tarked shit let’s get our country in a better state thru UNITY
If Ronnie had the country at heart that’s why he led a no confidence against you a**hole Sl**an
People of the BVI should know when Natalie come on here talking shit it’s not him but his highly paid advisers who are not from here and don’t give a damn about the BVI
It’s political jealousy they have against Myron.
HE CAN’T FORM A GOVERNMENT WITH 3………HE NEEDS 7 WINNERS TO DO THAT………….IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS TIME