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HoA meets Monday; Dr the Hon Dawson set to be nominated Deputy Speaker

- VIP gov't now has 8-seat majority
The government of the Virgin Islands (VI) will head to the House of Assembly (HoA) to nominate Hon Dr Karl Dawson (R1) as the next Deputy Speaker of the HoA. Photo: Facebook
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will move the motion to nominate Hon Dr Karl Dawson (R1) as the next Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly on March 24, 2025: Photo: Facebook
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will move the motion to nominate Hon Dr Karl Dawson (R1) as the next Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly on March 24, 2025: Photo: Facebook
With Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Hon Lorna G. Smith (AL) crossing the floor, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government now holds an 8-seat majority in the 13-member House of Assembly. Photo: GIS/VINO/File
With Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Hon Lorna G. Smith (AL) crossing the floor, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government now holds an 8-seat majority in the 13-member House of Assembly. Photo: GIS/VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The government of the Virgin Islands (VI) will head to the House of Assembly (HoA) next week to nominate Dr the Hon Karl Dawson (R1) as the next Deputy Speaker.

The nomination will take place during the Continuation of the Third Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth HoA on Monday, March 24, 2025. 

The nomination of Dr the Honourable Dawson will strip the title of Deputy Speaker from Hon Stacy M. Mather (AL), a member of the Opposition who has been the Deputy Speaker since 2023. 

During a press conference today, Friday, March 21, 2025, Premier Wheatley said he made his intentions clear that he will move that motion for Dr Dawson to be elected as the Deputy Speaker. 

VIP now has 8-seat majority

Dr Dawson served as Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries before being removed from the junior minister position when Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) returned to the government’s side.

“In most Parliaments, the Deputy Speaker would be a member of the government, and that’s not the case now, and that’s, in my view, an anomaly that needs to be corrected…Dr Dawson will continue to play a very important role in our Parliamentary democracy as well as assisting me in the Agriculture and Fisheries portfolio,” Premier Wheatley explained. 

This will also mark the first time since the 2023 general elections that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government will have an 8-seat majority. On October 23, 2024, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3) crossed the floor to become Deputy Premier. 

Monday's sitting of the HoA will begin at 1:00 PM.

The sitting will be aired LIVE on House of Assembly VI Youtube; House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands Facebook; 780 AM ZBVI Radio; CBN-Radio (90.9 FM); FLOW TV Channel 101; and CCT TV Channel 291.

8 Responses to “HoA meets Monday; Dr the Hon Dawson set to be nominated Deputy Speaker”

  • Fractures (21/03/2025, 16:40) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    All in the name of retaining power at any and all costs. Sham government with imbeciles running amock with the government treasury
  • Herbs Powa (21/03/2025, 20:07) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    Soon the people which is the majority will get fed up of y'all nonsense and put a stop to this system.
  • @Fractures (21/03/2025, 21:05) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Politics is a numbers game.
  • waste of time (22/03/2025, 04:00) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    All this man does is drive up and down carrot bay. He doesn't help no one. Only talk and help the old people. He shouldn't be over any district
    • Only talk and help old people. (22/03/2025, 21:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I thought you said "he doesn't help no one"
  • Rubber Duck (22/03/2025, 07:04) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Showda continues to out maneuver all of them
  • Sad (22/03/2025, 09:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    So very sad that the Premier is removing Hon Mather and replacing him with Hon. Dawson. If the Premier was really interested in the BVI he would never make this move but it is all about getting his and his party's way. VIP must go!
    • agreed (24/03/2025, 00:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The deputy speaker should not be removed unless he voluntarily steps down. Not a fan of the Alliance but right is right and wrong is wrong. It is not a good look.


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