BVI-OECS congratulates Wheatly on his re-election.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC -The Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr. Didacus Jules, says the re-election of Dr. Natalio Wheatly as Premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is “a reflection of the confidence placed in you and your coalition of parties by the electorate.”

Wheatly, the leader of the Virgin Island Party (VIP), formed a coalition government in the British Overseas Territory following Monday’s general election after the party secured the support of Territorial At-Large winner Lorna Smith.

Smith, elected on a ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP), was later sworn in as Deputy Premier. Her decision gave the coalition the seven seats needed to take control of the 13-seat Parliament.

“Honourable Premier, your selection to the position of Premier, is a reflection of the confidence placed in you and your coalition of parties by the electorate to carry them forward in their quest for further development and continued improvement in their standard of living,” Jules said in a congratulatory message on Friday, adding that the OECS stands ready to support him the government in this regard.

OECS chairman and Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Easton Farrell, also pledged the support of the sub-regional grouping in his congratulatory remarks.

The St. Lucia-based OECS Commission said it is pleased by the peaceful conduct of the elections and commended the Virgin Islanders “for turning out to exercise their constitutional rights.

“The Commission looks forward to welcoming the newly elected Government of the Virgin Islands and assures the government and people of its continued commitment and service to the promotion of the country’s interests as a member of the OECS family regionally and internationally.

“In this regard, the Commission re-commits to working closely with the Government of the Virgin Islands in furtherance of the objectives of the country and the organization,” it added.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, and the BVI.