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'I am Deputy Premier until Tuesday, Dec 17, 2019'- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

- shuts down inaccurate BVI Platinum report that he was appointed 'Indefinitely'
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has shut down inaccurate media reports that he was appointed Deputy Premier indefinitely as reported by local media tabloid the BVI Platinum. Photo: VINO/File
BVI Platinum News has since corrected its headline and has blamed the lack of clarity in the Gazette for its error. Photo: VINO
BVI Platinum News has since corrected its headline and has blamed the lack of clarity in the Gazette for its error. Photo: VINO
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) will be appointed as the next Depuity Premier on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, according to Hon Vincent O. Wheatley. Photo: Facebook/File
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) will be appointed as the next Depuity Premier on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, according to Hon Vincent O. Wheatley. Photo: Facebook/File
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), left, and Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) have already served their 3-month terms as Deputy Premier. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), left, and Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) have already served their 3-month terms as Deputy Premier. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has shut down inaccurate media reports that he was appointed Deputy Premier indefinitely as reported by local tabloid BVI Platinum.

This comes even as Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has indicated several times that all his Government Ministers would get an opportunity to serve in the Deputy Premier post on a rotational basis.  

Tenure ends Tuesday - Hon Wheatley 

Today, December 13, 2019, BVI Platinum in a report entitled, "Wheatley Appointed Deputy Premier Indefinitely," speculated that the Territory may have a long-term Deputy Premier in the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration. 

However, on inquiry from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), the Minister has since debunked those claims, noting that he will remain the Deputy Premier up until next Tuesday, December 17, 2019, having been sworn in on September 6, 2019. 

Further in a Facebook post today, the Minister moved to make more clarifications. "Good day all, just to clarify my tenure as Deputy Premier. The Premier’s capacity building initiative continues with Minister Malone being sworn in on Tuesday morning as Deputy Premier," he said. 

With Hon Carvin Malone next in line to serve as Deputy Premier, he will replace current Deputy, Hon Wheatley. The Previous Deputy Premiers were Hon Kyme M. Rymer (R5), appointed on  July 6, 2019, in addition to Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) who was first to take the post on March 6, 2019.

Rotation Continues 

Still left to fill the chair include the two Junior Ministers, Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL), and  Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) who recently saw their portfolio's swapped. Hon Flax-Charles is now Jr Minister for Trade and Economic Development while Hon de Castro is Jr Minister for Tourism. 

The Premier in his rational to appoint ministers on a rotational basis said it allowed for each to get the experience and develop in areas they might never have the opportunity to see. 

“Every three months for the first year, each minister will be given the opportunity to serve in the post of Deputy Premier and after the first year, then someone will be named permanently to the post,” Hon Fahie said.

11 Responses to “'I am Deputy Premier until Tuesday, Dec 17, 2019'- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”

  • Ladies (13/12/2019, 13:31) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Why wasn't the two female legislators not giving a chance?
    • @ladies (13/12/2019, 14:10) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
      From my observation the junior ministers will not be given that opportunity until the are assign as Minister. The 5 ministers will always come before the Juniors so there is no need to further hold up the assignment after Minister Malone chance. That was clear from the beginning of this initiative.

      The ladies will eventually get their opportunities so please stop making this sound sexist!
      • Hmm (14/12/2019, 17:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        No one is being sexist. These ladies deserved a chanced just like another. Jr. Minister or not.
    • vi (13/12/2019, 15:24) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Let us wait and see, also remember they are Junior ministers, they operate within the Premier's ministry. The other 4 hold major ministries on their own so their might not be a need to have them serve as the deputy during the rotational period.
  • GG (13/12/2019, 13:45) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    The blue site again causing confusion... How difficult is it to report credible information and stop speculating?
  • oh boy (13/12/2019, 14:21) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    i saw this in the Gazette and was wondering how come Carvin didnt get a chance. This is not platinum fault this is a mixup in the gazette. I still think the junior minister should get a chance. Who knows one could become the next Premier
  • Quiet Rebel (13/12/2019, 20:57) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This three month Deputy Premier musical chair/hot seat is nonsense. Outside of filling in for the Premier when he is out of the territory, what other additional responsibilities, if any, does the rotating musical chair Deputy Premier have? Be courageous and appoint someone permanently. But I suspect that they all want to be Deputy Premier so to reduction the friction the 3 month nonsense is rolled out.
  • facts (13/12/2019, 23:08) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    Vino is the only accurate site we trust
  • And I bet (14/12/2019, 09:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are not going to show it but, they are pissed off. Everyone wants the position. I have money on the table that he is going to give the Deputy Premier position to Wheatly or Malone.
  • 4 real (17/12/2019, 06:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It will be Malone


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