Premier Wheatley carried a burden others would’ve refused
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has offered a striking defence of Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, describing him as a leader who bore humiliation and sacrifice at a level few others would have accepted, painting a picture of someone who “paid the ultimate price” for the territory’s survival.
In recent remarks before the House of Assembly, Fraser reflected on Premier Wheatley’s rise to leadership during the turbulent aftermath of the 2022 Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, which threatened the suspension of the BVI’s constitution and the imposition of direct rule from London.
“This Premier we have, I must say this: He’s a very young person, filled with ambition. For a long time, he’s been filled with ambition. But what happened to him, I don’t think he expected it to happen to him. Sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for because you might get it,” Fraser said.
He then acknowledged that many in Dr Wheatley’s position might have refused the premiership, describing the job as “thankless” and the ordeal as “humiliating to the core.”
“When the position was thrust upon him to lead this country, some people would have said ‘no thanks.’ … And what I saw him go through — I was not a part of his Unity Government — the struggle that Unity Government went through and the inhumanity as far as I see it, I wasn’t gonna do it. I was not going to do what I saw him do.”
Despite the indignities, Fraser said Dr Wheatley’s resolve helped guide the Virgin Islands through one of the darkest storms in its political history.
Central to Fraser’s remarks was the lingering Order in Council, held in reserve by the UK government as a measure to suspend the BVI’s constitution if reforms stall.
“I don’t think it was a matter of capability. I think it was one that was humiliating to the core. But because of who he is, him being who he is, he went through it, and I think he took us through the storm. And to this day, as we are trying to get this Order in Council lifted from above us, there are those who don’t seem to understand what the country is going through.”
A leader others have praised
Fraser’s defence of Dr Wheatley adds to a growing chorus of voices who have praised the Premier’s leadership under pressure. After the COI report was handed down in April 2022, the Premier inherited a government in crisis and worked with both elected representatives and the UK to avoid direct rule.
Even former rivals, like Fraser himself, have acknowledged Dr Wheatley’s resilience. Earlier this month, Premier Wheatley described Fraser as “one of the persons who is defending me the most… not just because of anything to do with me but because he’s a patriot for the country.”
The Premier has also won admiration beyond the territory. Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr. of the USVI, during a 2023 address, called Dr Wheatley “my guy” and praised Virgin Islanders for producing leaders of strength and vision. Other Caribbean leaders have commended him for his global advocacy, which calls for the protection of the territory’s autonomy.
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But bad leaders are Dictators.
As you say Fraser. He is a Dictator.
He will force us to build a secret airport we do not want.
Build a secret airport we cannot afford.
Drive on donkey tracks.
Live without water.
Drive us into Independence we do not want and is only good for Dictators and their supporters.
Govern behind a secret veil.
No.
He is not what you say.
And who would believe anything you say as you switch and turn and grab for greed only ever to your own advantage.
We need a leader for the people.
You and he are not it.
This is the difference between a career politican and a Novice . Hon. Fraser aka liberator will not critize the Premier out in the public. In fact his position is not to disagree with the Premier at all , his Job is to execute the Premiers vision.So if you are not willing to play that role … dont take the position. Hon. Fraser understands the assignment.
My God … are there no levels the Deputy from Hog City won’t lower himself to.fora dollar and first class flight to anywhere?
This Premier is the worst person, at the worst time, under the worst circumstances, in a country that is in it’s worst state, EVER!
Mr. Hog City man, put your greed away and put Country first for once.
I am certain you’re a smart and devious man, and i even get the politics behind your games. But c’mon Bro, even the comedians amongst us don’t get this joke!
When will Fraser take his head out of the Premier’s rear end? For a near 80 year old man to be graveling like this because he got an Audi and some plane flights is disgusting.
Fraser kisses the Premier backside for Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner and snacks. Fraser is old enough to be the Premier’s Grandfather. How are you as old as you are Fraser would Grovel and stoop that low. The Premier tells Fraser what and when to say anything. Fraser wanted a taste of flying first class, staying in 5 star Hotels and the others perks that comes along with LUXARY travel.
We going back with Natalio for another 4 years bam
Tired seeing or hearing this bofoon.
Which one are we dealing with here??
Anyone with ETHICS. UK NOW
A New Breed of Leadership: Why Dr. Wheatley Deserves Space to Lead and Not Bashing
A Leader in the Eye of the Storm: This is the first time in Virgin Islands history that a young, highly educated leader is steering our country. Dr. Natalio Wheatley did not climb into office through scandal or manipulation. He inherited the helm in the worst of circumstances—a territory still struggling from the devastating hurricanes of 2017, the crippling shock of COVID-19, the weight of global inflation, and the fallout from Andrew Fahie’s case. Wheatley stepped forward not out of personal ambition, but out of duty—and that distinction matters.
Why We Must Allow Growth: Instead of acknowledging the difficulty of this moment, too many seem intent on running him out of office prematurely. But leadership is not forged in calm waters—it is shaped in storms. Every nation that values its future must allow its next generation of intellectuals and professionals to find their footing. If we cut them down too quickly, we condemn ourselves to endlessly recycling the same old names who already had their chance—and often failed to deliver lasting change.
The Real Debate We Should Be Having: What the Virgin Islands need now is not constant bashing, but constructive advice. Criticism is part of democracy, yes, but tearing down every move without offering solutions weakens the entire territory. The national conversation should be about policy:
• How to manage a transparent airport expansion that creates jobs without overburdening taxpayers.
• How to ease the cost of living that weighs heavily on families.
• How to strengthen education and family programs that prepare the next generation.
• How to approach self-determination responsibly—through public education and dialogue, not reckless haste.
• How to celebrate culture through festivals while ensuring accountability and value for money.
These are the issues worth debating, not whether a young leader should be shoved aside before he even finds his feet.
A Call to the Older Generation: Dr. Wheatley represents a new breed of leadership, younger, educated, forward-looking. He is not perfect, but no Premier has ever governed perfectly, especially not in times as turbulent as these. The older generation of politicians, many still scrambling to return to office, should reflect honestly: is the best service they can render really another round of personal ambition? Or is it to mentor, guide, and encourage the new wave of leaders who will carry us into the future?
Choosing the Future Over the Past: If we truly love these Virgin Islands, the choice is clear. We give our young leader the room to grow. We hold him accountable with fairness, not hostility. We rally around the principle that the future belongs not to recycled politics of yesterday, but to the educated sons and daughters rising up today.
How much time I have to tell you not to fool and scare the people about the order in the council? It’s not suspending any constitution, do you think any modern day civilization will remove the constitution so there could be killing and no judiciary and man married man and thievery lawful? No it’s the politicians that would be suspended from parliament and the civil servants like permanent secretary run the day to day affairs, and then we will see road and infrastructure. Do you think a permanent secretary could go ever give Vybz Kartel quarter million USD? Or fear deposit $5 million USD to bank of Asia? Them politicians have the people like moomoo crying that constitution suspended is going to make them bleed blood, it is natalio going bleed blood when he see he can’t travel and have parties, he could have party at his home then when the governor and permanent secretary running things.politicians see it as great danger when their power over the people tax money at the treasury is interrupted.
No governor or permanent secretary or the director of audit could sanction no non-stop party when the order in the council is enacted, just people first and infrastructure and seniors will be looked after by the UK.
THIS AIN’T NO GUESSING GAME , WE ALREADY EXPERIENCE THE ” RODEO GAME ” THAT WAS A LONG SERMON , ARE YOU ONE OF THE 3 WANNABE HOLY BOYZ FROM CGB ?????
My opinion and my opinion only. He carried the burden because he choose to carry the burden. He knew what he was signing up for, he put his John Hancock on that. In the Political world part of the job is to carry the burden that you took on. In the Political world only the strong will survive.
He’s rewarding himself handsomely with our tax dollars, as well, doing whatever he pleases.
Which burden you carrying that others would refuse, long strupezzzz. You are not a leader.
The burden of parties and excessive flights on business class. Yeah boi real heavy mehson
What is this? Governments should be judged by their actions. So far, there have been parties…electricity grid is still primitive, roads are appalling, waste management is an oxymoron, education efforts are poor, limited health care, lots of unfettered criminality. The govt just borrowed $100 million the tax payers are on the hook for, without revealing terms of loan or source of repayment funds, and without clear earmarking other than evidently that white elephant called the airport. in short, the place is a mess, and there does not appear to be a cohesive plan to do anything about it. But somehow, we should be heaping praise on the so-called leadership? April Fool’s day is 8 months away
Ok. so what is the difference between a premier and a cat fish??…..
The Vip government is The Biggest Burden the People of This Territory are carrying of which you are a Part of.