Premier’s message to all who didn’t protest Vanterpool’s demotion
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has urged residents who chose not to participate in protests over the demotion of senior police officer Jacqueline Vanterpool to put aside personal grievances and stand up for what they believe is right, warning that silence in moments of perceived injustice can weaken society as a whole.
The Premier gave his perspective in response to a journalist’s statement that some residents stayed away because they felt they had been unfairly treated by the current administration, including through job losses or demotions across government. However, he cautioned against allowing those experiences to dictate whether people defend others.
“Whenever someone has the opportunity to do the right thing, they should do it,” Premier Wheatley said. “Don’t not do the right thing for somebody else because you don’t think the right thing was done for yourself.”
He stressed that standing up for others is essential to maintaining a culture of fairness and mutual support. “If you take that opportunity, then when a wrong is being done to you, nobody will stand up for you,” the Premier said. “So it’s important for us to stand up for each other if we believe it is right.”
The leader also urged residents to be mature enough to separate individual grievances from broader issues of justice.
“If there’s a wrong that was done somewhere else, you have to be mature enough to separate that from this particular situation,” he said. “Whenever we have the opportunity to stand up for the right, we should do that.”
He then advised people who feel they have been wronged by the political directorate that they do have the means to stand up for themselves. The Premier said public protest and pressure remain legitimate and effective ways to influence governance.
“Democracy is important,” he said, noting that citizens have multiple avenues to express dissatisfaction with an elected government. “Over the breadth of four years, if you don’t like how a government behaves, you’ll have an opportunity to do something about it.”
The Premier also linked the controversy surrounding Vanterpool’s demotion to the ongoing push for constitutional reform, arguing that stronger democratic structures are needed to ensure accountability, particularly when decisions are made by unelected officials.
“The reason why we are seeking to have a constitution which is advanced is so that we have more democracy, more democratic accountability to the public in the way that we are governed,” he said.
He pointed out that when residents protest decisions made by officials they did not elect, their ability to demand accountability is limited. “When you make protests to those persons who you do not elect and they take actions, you don’t necessarily have the tools to hold them accountable,” he said. “So we need more democratic tools to hold persons accountable.”
Dr Wheatley encouraged those who were disappointed by Vanterpool’s demotion to channel their frustrations constructively. “For those persons who may have been disappointed about the situation where Jackie Vanterpool is concerned, I would encourage them to fight for and advocate for a constitution that gives us more democratic accountability,” he said.
He concluded by emphasising that dissatisfaction with the elected government ultimately has a clear democratic remedy. “If persons, after all those things, are not satisfied,” the Premier said, “they have the power of the ballot.”
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Meson go stand up to the Governor and COI to bring back the petty contract system to put some money through this economy.
Even if the process is to be managed by someone from the UK. Stop marching for nonsense.
It’s alleged that Jackie did not agree with vetting, and she breached confidentiality.
Learn to pick your battles that would benefit the people and stop letting persons who are facing charges whisper foolishness in your ears.
That girl was not demoted – she was holding the position as a temporary. How is that demotion? smh
OH REALLY
Yes; Really.
Same thing I was saying she knew damn well she was just there till they find someone it’s like some people in This vi so blind sided by because she local and she cud do the job when in reality she knew it was not a promotion and she had to step down so what’s wit all the fusss. Not because you capable of doing a job means you are best suited many factors here .
i din’t protest because i knew it was a waste of time, plus whenever you see the famous people protesting you know its for a selfish reason. They never protest for things that benefit the common man, like the lack of water, poor roads and schools etc, its a joke
Heritage has stopped wasting his time with these people, both he, Kishma, Cindy and Picko put everything on the line and yet the people ran and hid.
I cannot believe that the good gentleman is sayying that we should protest injustice. That is exactly what his Goverment has been doing to the public for the past 6 plus years!!!
I didn’t protest because I’m saving energy to protest for you to add the rest of the minimum wage
You only got 487 votes but some how in this country where most people do not have the right to vote, just like in the old days of colonialism but you get to be premier.
This is no democracy and you lead like a Dictator.
dude go relax yurself and learn some sense nah. She was not demoted, and commissioner or deputy seat did not belong to her. An actor is just that – acting. Now she goes back to her contracted position and move right along.
In other news, what about the armed robbery at the cruise pier? Has it gone cold? No arrests and no charges? How man can commit crimes in small BVI and get away just so is baffling.
He fake. I watch Kye Rhymer allegedly hide his face with his card in from the police headquatets office while they taking pictures. I was in my vihecles sitting.
The lady was not demoted, she was simply reverted back to your substantive post. When Governor Pruce returns to the BVI in January will David Archer be demoted or simply reverted back to DG which is his post? If Pruce leaves tomorrow and David Archer is acting Governor for 2 months then a new Governor arrives, is he demoted when he goes back to his role? Jackie was used as a political tool and anybody with good eyes and half a brain could see it.
If you want to have your opinion respected by others then you FIRST as the leader of the country must respect others and their opinions. Ms. Vanterpool might be qualified for the position of Commissioner but others do not think so and therefore she has not been promoted. She was not demoted either. So calling it a demotion is disingenuous. But then when he said that if Seniors are having problems living off their pensions they should go sign up at Social Development was disingenuous too but mostly it was disrespectful to the people he likes to refer to as those on whose shoulders we stand. Really? As a Senior I view this protest as strictly political and anti-governor and not about caring what happens to Ms. Vanterpool at all.
Sorry Mr.Premier but as someone you have victimised I will not be participating in anything you are apart of. You are the definition of a hypocrite and you need to have several seats.If there’s a March against you and the state you have our territory in that I will support wholeheartedly.
Are you saying we should stand up and protest against you? We can see how you and your cronies are running this country.
Mr Pemier your disingenuous attemt at defending the indefensible has proven that you are a lower insect than Andrew Fahie and he is as low as it can get.
The whole scenario on tape and loud and clear,in addition to all ah we knowing Andrew shady long long time before he boldly boasted it on tape… ” this is not my first rodeo”. Your one man lament of the UK and yours and you alone loss and embellishment about MsVanterpool is suspect and for Father God sake please shut your mouth and lay low…We looking bad guilty incapable as it is ..stop digging our grave,,enough is enough.!“Father God is not in our corner on this, wrong is wrong. Shut your mouth, if you please but it is already too late most likely. Trump in de corner and you liadjng him up with the ammunition to finish these VI. We needed and need the US and if anything we owe them and apology for the ass U st infeeding of pipeline of drugs into the USVI, and mainland USA. Lap your tail and hold strain if you please. Dingo and yo other CARICOM friends can’t help us, their capabilities extends solely to sinking us deeper in their poverty and criminal chit. We too Black for them to hire us in legitimate jobs in their countries.
Jackie got what she deserved… she did not lose her post, she held it until the governor saw it fit to remove her. Premiee while u at it, u need to be removed as well for doing a bunch of s**t!!