TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – Premier Natalio Wheatley has called on residents to put the recent elections behind them and to desist from gossiping and name-calling.
During the recent reopening of Parliament, the Premier also hit out at those who called him “the accidental Premier” during the campaign trail leading up to the April 24 general election.
He added that while he wasn’t bothered by the “accidental Premier” label, it contrasts with his God-given destiny to be a leader among his people.
“During the campaign, I was called ‘the accidental Premier. ‘I don’t refer to it because I wasn’t bothered in any way. Those things are part of the campaign, and that is indeed over now,” Wheatley stated.
“It is in striking contrast to the fundamental conviction of my life — my life is based on a purpose. The creator of the universe knew me before I was in my mother’s womb. The creator has plans for me. He gave me gifts, intellect, a compassionate heart for the people, and allowed me to serve my people,” the Premier noted.
Wheatley became the so-called “accidental Premier” because while serving as Deputy Premier under the Fahie administration, he was pushed into the role of Premier after Andrew Fahie was arrested on drug-related charges in the United States in 2022.
At the time, Dr. Wheatley became the youngest in the territory’s history to assume the role of Premier.
But some community sections believed that Wheatley had not rightfully earned the position of Premier because he wasn’t appointed after an election.
However, all of that changed in April this year when his party, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), won the most seats in the general election. Wheatley was again named Premier after the VIP formed a coalition government with Lorna Smith.
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