Public officers, elected reps & immature Opposition governance stalling VI's progress- Premier Wheatley
Not mincing words during his budget debate rebuttal on December 18, 2024, Premier Wheatley publicly upbraided those at fault suggesting, “It is not that we do not have a strong economy; it is not that we don’t have a strong foundation; we have a lot of good things going for us.”
He was adamant continuing, " If we go about and tell everybody that the Virgin Islands needs to be cleaned up, that should be a rallying cry—not just to make the sitting government look bad. It’s a rallying cry for all of us to do our part.”
On the issue of sewage management, he posits, “If we have a sewage problem, what about a rallying cry? Look, if you need to build another septic tank, build that other septic tank, don’t just run your sewage on the road.”
On plumbing maintenance, he said bluntly, “If you know you have a leak, get a plumber in, fix that leak.”
Pressing the need for greater accountability, particularly among public officers and elected officials, he was adamant about the need for a more collaborative approach to problem-solving as every public officer has a role to play.
Immature Governance
“Have we achieved our full potential? The answer is no. We have not achieved our full potential, and this is why we are elected as leaders,” Premier Wheatley continued.
With this in mind, he lambasted the Opposition for what he described as an “immature” approach to governance and nation-building, suggesting that their focus on discrediting the government hindered progress.
“It is a purpose and a goal to ensure that all the problems of the Virgin Islands are the fault of the current government; it’s an immature view. It is a view motivated generally by selfishness, in my opinion,” he said.
Challenging both political leaders and citizens alike to adopt a broader perspective, Dr Wheatley spoke to the importance of truth-telling and collaboration, “If you are interested in nation-building, if you are not just concerned about the next election but about the next generation, you will tell the public the truth. And the truth is, nation-building involves all of us.”
According to Premier Wheatley, a leadership that will tell the people the truth and engender a sense of unity—a sense of purpose, that persons have a stake in all doing well is needed.
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19 Responses to “Public officers, elected reps & immature Opposition governance stalling VI's progress- Premier Wheatley”
Shifting Blame to Citizens
Premier Wheatley’s suggestion that individuals should solve systemic problems like sewage management or plumbing leaks at their own expense is a gross abdication of government responsibility. Infrastructure maintenance and development are core government functions, not tasks to be haphazardly delegated to residents. This approach highlights a lack of accountability and undermines public trust in his administration.
Platitudes Over Policy
Declaring that the BVI has a “strong foundation” and “a lot of good things going for us” without providing concrete evidence or plans is hollow optimism at best and deliberate obfuscation at worst. Where is the data to substantiate this claim? What policies are in place to ensure that these alleged strengths translate into tangible benefits for the populace? Leadership requires more than feel-good statements; it demands clear goals, measurable outcomes, and accountability.
Immature Governance Starts at the Top
While criticizing the Opposition for “immature governance,” Premier Wheatley fails to recognize that mature leadership involves addressing criticism constructively and fostering transparency. Deflecting responsibility and framing dissent as selfishness reflects poorly on his ability to lead inclusively. Mature governance begins with acknowledging shortcomings and presenting actionable solutions.
Failure to Address Root Causes
Telling people to “build a septic tank” or “call a plumber” trivializes the systemic issues underlying poor infrastructure and governance. These are not isolated problems caused by negligent citizens but are symptoms of decades of mismanagement, underinvestment, and lack of strategic planning. Where are the policies to overhaul waste management, upgrade public infrastructure, or create accountability frameworks for public officers?
A Hollow Call for Unity
While calling for collaboration and unity, Premier Wheatley fails to inspire confidence that his administration has the capacity to lead by example. Unity requires trust, and trust is built on transparency, competence, and delivering results. Without a clear vision or a demonstrable commitment to addressing the systemic issues he acknowledges, his calls for collective effort ring hollow.
A Harsh Reality: Leadership Without Vision
Premier Wheatley’s remarks reveal a troubling lack of strategic foresight, prioritization, and accountability. His defensive posture and reliance on broad, feel-good statements are no substitute for effective governance. The BVI needs a leader who can articulate a clear vision for the territory’s future, back it with actionable policies, and take full responsibility for both successes and failures. Simply put, the time for platitudes is over. The people of the Virgin Islands deserve decisive leadership that tackles systemic issues head-on—not hollow rhetoric designed to deflect blame.
C’mon man! Make sense dude!
Premier Natalio Sajuande Wheatley, Is the above sentiments the right way to end the last day of 2024 complaining?
When are you going to admit of your inabilities to lead the British Virgin Islands people politically in the path of good governance? Of course those that are profiting big love your leadership style
If everything that have negatively happened and now happening politically are others fault, then tell what your faults are.
My opinion is that you are under severe pressure, not only of what others have negatively said and done, but also what you have said, saying, and doing politically and socially done wrong.
Honest confession of wrongs done, the knowledge and wisdom to change course is prerequisite to better governance 2025 in a few hours coming and beyond.
Hopefully you will lead better beginning January 1st, beginning in Long Look, district 7, and its surrounding areas, not to be excluded the other 8 districts, too, 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9.