BVI News

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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24 Comments

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  1. SMH says:

    Dr Pickering #2023

    Like 12
    Dislike 12
  2. sigh of relief says:

    He well glad

  3. Shocks man says:

    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.

    Like 21
    Dislike 5
  4. Interested says:

    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

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  5. FACIAL EXPRESSION says:

    IS( SAYING ( HALLELUIAH ) I HAVE COME SO THAT YOU MAY SAVED , CAN I GET AN AMEN SOMEBODY )> ANYBODY ❓

  6. Say it says:

    @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?

  7. Mouth CHAMP says:

    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 ?

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  8. island life says:

    THIS MAN HAD HIS CANCE AND DID NOTHING FOR THE BVI PEOPLE.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  9. Stupid says:

    The only old guard I would elect again is Ronnie Skelton, not another one!

    Like 12
    Dislike 2
  10. Good move says:

    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

    Like 6
    Dislike 7
  11. Don’t says:

    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.

  12. lol says:

    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.

  13. Sahara says:

    @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.

  14. Again says:

    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

    Like 2
    Dislike 5
  15. West says:

    @SAHARA, AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER BABIES AND MOTHERS. WE AIN’T FORGETTING ABOUT THEM!!

  16. YO mama says:

    Playing games while you are playing with yourself

  17. @@SAHARA says:

    Where does babies and mothers play into this?

  18. Kedrick would have won#7 says:

    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.

  19. Lever says:

    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.

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
  20. @again says:

    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.

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  21. Old Guard's Man says:

    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.

  22. @@again says:

    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.

  23. Interested says:

    Ronnie is younger than I and I am not yet seventy,Wheel and come again

  24. @Again says:

    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.

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