Premier refutes Pickering’s claim about dad’s ‘unfinished’ work
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has refuted claims that his father, Douglas Wheatley, did not complete a task in relation to constitutional work delegated years ago, as alleged by former Deputy Premier Dr Kedrick Pickering.
According to Dr Pickering, the territory’s first Premier, Ralph O’Neal appointed a committee headed by the senior Wheatley. The committee, he said, should have explored aspects such as educating the population that would eventually lead the territory towards independence.
“The committee was supposed to have done that, the committee was established, and it fell apart somewhere – the work was never done,” Dr Pickering said.
But while insisting that he wanted to set the record straight, Premier Wheatley said during the House of Assembly (HOA) recently that this was not the case. He defended his father’s work on that committee, citing the fact that he was currently ill and therefore not in a position to defend himself.
Premier Wheatley said the committee was tasked with reporting on the cost obligations and liabilities of the territory if it sought independence. “He did complete the work. He submitted a draft of the report to the then-Chief Minister Dr D Orlando Smith,” Premier Wheatley said.
The Premier then read a letter presented to Dr Smith about the work done by the committee. The committee’s report explained the task of establishing the framework and roadmap for independence as ‘a work in progress’ to be fine-tuned and updated periodically.
The report said the document presented to the former Chief Minister was to become a repository of information and was also expected to aid in understanding the concept of governance in an overseas territory.
“The document then, in due course, will be a very useful and helpful aid in providing the policymakers, legislators, and the general public with valuable insights into the various implications of independence. This will occur after the Executive Council has reviewed it, and after it has been laid on the table of the Legislative Council and becomes a public document,” the report stated.
Premier Wheatley said he hopes that reading the details of the letter presented by his father would remove any lack of clarity or misinformation that had been presented in public forums since Dr Pickering’s statement weeks ago.
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Chupes! On here word slinging instead of trying to get Our Educational System functional. Speak on Progress and NOT on personal gripes.
Why is Doug camping out in the Adina Donovan home?
Where is Douglas now? Haven’t seen or heard him in ages……Hope what I am hearing is not so
Speak about why your father in the poor house when he has all these children with good jobs. If you can’t even help your father then how could you help anybody else. Time for a new Premier and government. Look at who is our minister of finance. Someone who never ever everrrrrrrrrr ran a lemonade stand. We are lost people
Boss you should be adressing your father situation in the home for the elderly thank god i saw him, and i must say he is lookig happy and younger than you MrPremier.
@2 bourgeois sons, the norm of the well to do children of recognize parents. After the children done sell of inherited property or money, them park up them parents on the government dwelling steps. That leaves very or NO dwelling for the poor and needy of the territory. What a shame and disgrace!
He got the nerves to talk about his father? Ask him where he is!
@ Commentors, … He should be shame to tackle the Cuban.
That’s why I’ll not vote again ,this personal s**t gets us no where.8
Doug Wheatley former CIA agent?
He quick to defend his father but was quick to cal Najan rouge. He wouldn’t defend no one from the false accusations in the COI but quick to defend his father.
When will politicans learn the meaning of Moral and Ethics. There are so much to work on and this is what is been dug up on personal notes. Not a vote they will get.
I need to see visionary leaders, who are dealing with the problems, creating developments and exposing their youth to educational events for lifework. Furthermore, I pray GOD sent genuine men with backbone.
Play the Tape!
If your father is in the Home go and get him please
If people need full time care what is wrong with people being in a home? There are no private care homes for the elderly in the BVI.
It would be better if there were more homes.
Oh my
I miss hearing him on radio.Intelligent and a wealth of information and local political history. A gem.A treasure.
Sorry to learn that he is infirmed. I had no idea.
Life is so uncertain and each day I am amazed.
I am confident that his sons,his family i know is doing whatever is necessary and appropriate for their Dad.
Then that means @care Mr Premier is doing the right thing and everything is as it should be.
Is Mr. Wheatley still alive?