VI’s Premier Dr the Honourable Wheatley turns 44 today, June 2, 2024
![Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is the youngest person to hold the post of Premier of the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: Team of Reporters](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_2_2ce516ea-3a62-46ae-8054-dcaa2d7881f8.jpeg)
He is considered an Indigenous Virgin Islander as, apart from being born to parents both from the Virgin Islands, his grandparents and great-grandparents were also born in the Virgin Islands (VI).
His grandfather, the late Dr Willard Wheatley MBE, LLD served as Chief Minister from 1971-1979.
Premier Wheatley is the youngest person to hold the post of Premier, as he became Premier and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) in 2022 at the age of 42, following the arrest of former Premier Andrew A. Fahie.
Building a legacy?
After two attempts, Hon Wheatley was first elected in 2019 under the VIP banner when he defeated a longtime representative of 20 years, Dr Kedrick D. Pickering in District 7.
He was re-elected in April 2023 in a landslide against former Director of the Water and Sewerage Department Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard. His VIP took six out of 13 seats, the most seats in the 2023 general election of any political party.
A member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Mrs Lorna G. Smith OBE, joined with the VIP to give them 7 seats, the magic number needed for a majority in the House of Assembly. Hon Smith's NDP had only won 3 seats out of 13.
How can we forget?
Premier Wheatley took the helm of power in the VI at a most difficult time, including during a recovery that is still incomplete following two category-five hurricanes in 2017. 80 per cent of the houses, businesses and infrastructure of the VI was destroyed.
Following that, there was a global COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2022 and, in the middle of the pandemic, the United Kingdom (UK) imposed a one-sided Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that recommended the recolonisation of the British Overseas Territory by suspending the constitution.
Many legislators, including Leader of the Opposition Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), have described the CoI recommendations as a backward step for the people and have contributed to the suffering of residents.
While Premier Wheatley's one-year-old administration has faced lots of criticisms, many believe that with the required funding expected via a $100M loan, his government will be in a better position to fix the water and roads issues and push the economy to become fully robust.
Premier Wheatley is married to First Lady Carolyn M. Shallow-Wheatley.
The staff and management of Virgin Islands News Online express our birthday wishes to the Premier.
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25 Responses to “VI’s Premier Dr the Honourable Wheatley turns 44 today, June 2, 2024”
Pure evil, and silly childish behavior but camer will meet her!!! Birthday love showanda
By the way Tuesday is mine so I will be looking for to that day and all blessings God will bestow on me.
Birthday wishes king
Even more astonishing she is rocking her natural hair
Other women once u say travel is long long fake nails fake lash look like spider
And finally the long long Donkey Kong hair just disgusting
Anyways Happy Belated Birthday to the Premiere