Premier rejects Penn’s legislative abuse claims
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has pushed back against accusations that his administration abused the House of Assembly’s legislative process by dragging out the current sitting, arguing that the extended session was necessary to deliver urgent relief measures for the public.
Speaking recently in the House of Assembly, Dr Wheatley acknowledged that the sitting had gone on unusually long but insisted the extra time was spent tackling major and time-sensitive matters.
“The latter part of this sitting has been committed to providing relief to the people of the Virgin Islands,” Dr Wheatley said, pointing specifically to the Consumer Protection Amendment Bill and other cost-of-living measures recently brought before the House.
His comments came after Penn sharply criticised the government’s handling of the legislative process, accusing the administration of disregarding Standing Orders and treating the House like an extension of the executive rather than an independent arm of government with its own rules and responsibilities.
Penn had argued that government mismanagement created unnecessary urgency, forcing lawmakers into a prolonged session instead of allowing proper legislative scheduling.
But Premier Wheatley rejected the notion that the extended sitting reflected poor planning or procedural abuse.
“We took a long time on the report for the Constitutional Review Commission. We also took a long time with VEWCO (Virgin Islands Energy & Water Corporation). So it’s not like we just had this session open and didn’t have anything meaningful that we had to do,” the Premier said.
He also cited the passage of legislation to establish the Human Rights Commission, describing it as a critical step ahead of constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom.
“We’re not living in ordinary times right now. We had some immediate challenges that needed to be addressed,” Dr Wheatley said, adding that once the remaining business is completed, legislators will return in a new session where members can raise their outstanding questions.
The Premier went further, calling the sitting “historic” and suggesting all members should be proud of what was accomplished.
Jabs at Opposition
In a lighter moment, Premier Wheatley took a jab at the Opposition, joking that the sitting had lasted so long the territory had seen “two different Leaders of the Opposition” during its course — a reference to the controversial transition from Ronnie Skelton to Myron Walwyn and then Penn after much infighting in the opposition camp.
Still, the exchange underscores ongoing criticism of Dr Wheatley’s management of House business, a recurring theme throughout its tenure.
Opposition members and some members of the public have repeatedly complained about what they describe as poor legislative planning, rushed debates, and repeated bending of Standing Orders to accommodate the government’s agenda. Some have gone as far as to say they had never witnessed this level of disregard for the House’s established procedures under any previous administration, fuelling wider concerns about respect for the legislature’s independence and proper governance under the Wheatley administration.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
This is a stage thing to make Marlon look like he is working and not sleeping, because he is part of the indigenous entitlement elites, he already agreed on their script to go UK to get more power for politicians and not the people of the BVI, that’s why they scared a Myron who will fight for the people.
Legislative abuse AND Civil servant abuse. Have an unfavourable opinion of him? He launches an attack on you via the DG and we know how the DG LOVES to bully, fear monger and victimize civil servants.
Myron should have been one chosen.
He is by far the most competent one of the bunch.
We shall await the outcome; shall we?
No one can make Smurf look like he’s working except himself!
Dude is so out of touch with reality on the ground that he thinks he’s the next Premier – Lmbao!
Anywho, he needs to focus on getting a team together or he will be sitting in the opposition for another 4 years still doing nothing tangible!
Life under P487 DICTATOR.
TALLIE, is saying)> hey yow , we made sure you got that posiSITion for a ~reAZin -mehSon~ , so goh B tarkin-noSH-iT , and stick to the scRIP
I thought the people elected members to represent them in the House of Assembly (HOA); the HoA is the province of elected members. It is where where policies, laws, etc, are crafted. Is the Hon Penn wining about doing the people’s work? HoA members should work tirelessly doing the people work. When members stood for and get elected, he/she is either part of government or the opposition. As said, HoA is the province of elected members. If any member cannot stand the heat in the kitchen, get out. Hon Penn should be stressing about the skyrocketing cost of living, other electorate struggle. Instead, he is winning about the time he has to spend in the HoA to do the people work.
It does not mayter whomor how the government is exposed
Who does the exposurevis not the problem
He is abusing the system
And is not allowing them to ask questions of him
The premierbis a very cunning, manipulative fox
Yes that is whatbhe dors the factbtemains that he deliberately drags out the orocess for avoidance
MASTER WEATIE,Is saying)> may I remind you bro , ( ITS WE WHO RUN TINGS AROUND HERE ) you only got that position for a specific purpose , , SO STICK TO THE ” SCRIP ” AM STILL IN CHARGE
The NDP community lost my vote when its members put in an incompetent so call indigenous over a very well competent so call non indigenous to lead. Then they added insult to injury by repeating the same mess when selecting the Deputy leader. To hell with that mess. Better the devil you know than the one you dont. Four more years for the VIP…who would have thought I wpukd say that. Stop the foolishness.