Premier unfazed by Pickering’s switch to At-Large candidacy
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has seemingly adopted a posture of indifference towards former Deputy Premier Dr Kedrick Pickering’s latest decision to contest the next general election as a Territorial At-Large candidate.
Dr Pickering, who had announced back in April that he was looking to retake his Seventh District seat from Dr Wheatley, backpedalled on that announcement days ago stating that he was advised by “a number of people” to run At-Large because of his reported ability to “deal with the bigger issues”.
Commenting on Dr Pickering’s announced switch, Premier Wheatley said: “He is exercising his democratic right. Anyone who has the desire to serve the people of the Virgin Islands and they want to make a positive change for the territory, it is their democratic right whether they want to run in a district or as an At-Large.”
“I am going to exercise my democratic right to contribute to the people of the Virgin Islands and the choice will be for the people of the Seventh District whether they want to elect me or not and I will certainly continue to work hard for them and I hope they give me their support,” added Dr Wheatley who was speaking at press conference recently.
Premier Wheatley made the comments while responding to reports of widespread uncertainty within the public domain as to whether the general elections, which are constitutionally due next year, will still happen.
“I am not quite sure why there is uncertainty surrounding elections,” the Premier said. “Elections are constitutionally due in 2023. So, the constitution outlines when we have to have elections.”
The uncertainty described is likely because of the UK’s threat to partially suspend the BVI’s constitution and impose direct rule over the territory for at least two years.
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Dr Pickering #2023
He well glad
Dr. pickering has no shame in my opinion. What has he done for 8 years as a minister and 20 years as the representative for district 7? Is it that he feels entitled to be Premier or something? This would be the second biggest mistake that the BVI would make. Dr. pickering need to sit his backside down.
That is a set up.Watch the game .Picko will run at large independently leaving Natalio unchallenged.Then if he wins,will join the VIP and demand premiership
IS( SAYING ( HALLELUIAH ) I HAVE COME SO THAT YOU MAY SAVED , CAN I GET AN AMEN SOMEBODY )> ANYBODY ❓
@intrested, yes, yes, and yes. this is all part of the plan. All you have to do is sit back,observe, listen and keep your mouth shut and all the questions and answers will reveal itself. The man said he was unfazed right?
AIN’T NO THREAT / ONLY TO HIMSELF / AND BIG youth KNOWS THAT SO WHETHER HE WALK OR RUN , I DON’T THINK EITHER OF THEM HAVE PROVED WORTHY OF THE RESPECT THE PEOPLE HAD GO THE / PLUS THEY BETRAYED THEIR TRUST THAT THEY HAD IN THEM / THEY HAD A CHANCE IN A LIFE TIME TO PROVE THEMSELVES BUT POWER WENT TO THEIR HEADS ( PERSONALLY), I THINK THEY REALISED THAT THEY HAVE INSULTED THEMSELVES •¿• AND THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM / PITY ?
THIS MAN HAD HIS CANCE AND DID NOTHING FOR THE BVI PEOPLE.
The only old guard I would elect again is Ronnie Skelton, not another one!
Kedrick can win at-large easy . Do you know how many babies kedrick delivered and didn’t get paid , those people will be loyal to him
Don’t fall for the trick bag people. Pickering and Premier got their little agenda going on between themselves. They both know the chances for them at the polls is slim.
I think most of the electorate is unphased by Dr Pickering’s candidacy as well. Not to mention the 7th district.
Nothing to see here keep it moving.
@Good Move, you GOAT to be kidding me, the new way of saying you got to be kidding me. How can anyone say something so ignorant and stupid and dumb at the same time.
last place in any at large BVI election is now secure. Besides the days of 60+ year old BVI politicians are over. BVI needs intelligent articulate political persons in their 30s to 50s not these old dinosaurs from the 1950s
@SAHARA, AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER BABIES AND MOTHERS. WE AIN’T FORGETTING ABOUT THEM!!
Playing games while you are playing with yourself
Where does babies and mothers play into this?
At large is a huge mistake, don’t know advising him but this is a tragedy, bad strategy..Right now there are only one sure atlarge vote that Ms Flax, As a matter a fact only two Sure seat from the whole Unity set up look sure. Ms.Flax and Mr. Penn.
We need a mixture of politicians this time. Myron was the best one in the last government. I would like to see him back in government along with a few of the ones now and some new faces.
I support this 100%. I remember the NDP when they started, kedrick, Ronnie and some of the others said they only want two terms in government. Kedrick spend 20 years and Ronnie loss elections twice after serving about 16 years and still looking to come back again. Give the younger people a chance. We have younger, qualified and experienced people in the country. Kedrick is about 65 and Ronnie is close to 70 years. Guys give the younger generation a chance. You had yours.
Yes I have the confidence that he will get the job done with a few ‘choice words’ in between, but the job WILL get done. lol.
Open your eyes. You see what the young people did and NOT ONE OF THEM LEFT BEHIND had the balls to tell F#hie stop the worthlessness. They were all sitting idly by. IMO, they should be sitting right beside him. There needs to be a mixture for guidance.
Ronnie is younger than I and I am not yet seventy,Wheel and come again
Seems to me the emphasis should be on persons who actually have leadership skills and yes, the energy and fortitude to lead us. It definitely should not be on whether you are 60 plus. Why? Because the House of Assembly is presently loaded with young people who don’t know their ass from their elbow. I am convinced they were never even in charge of their own house budget or managed their households. So have no clue what the hell they should be doing. You have to be very careful when the criteria is youth and new representatives for we might end up from the frying pan into the duggone fire. This country has so much potential and the resources to do so more for the country and its people. We are now at a crucial point in our history. Money is now tight and the physical infrastructure is crumbling. What do the young politicians do, they go to Jost Van Dyke with $4 million for a school with 15 students. In my almost 60 year old opinion, it was cheaper to buy a damn boat and a school bus.
You can continue to think through your backside and vote like you have lost your minds. Truth be told, you won’t be alone. That is exactly what got us where we are.
The Premier of a country should have experience in leadership and management period. And last but not least, emphasis should be on brining the country and its people forward, not concentrating on next election and how one will be re-elected.