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'We brought the Motion of No-Confidence at the right time'- Opposition Leader

Despite much backlash, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has said the Opposition sought to bring the Motion of No Confidence against Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley at the right time. Photo: VINO
The Opposition held a one hour and thirty-five-minute press conference on September 3, 2024, even while the House of Assembly was in session and there were important bills to be addressed in keeping with the CoI Reforms. Photo: YouTube
The Opposition held a one hour and thirty-five-minute press conference on September 3, 2024, even while the House of Assembly was in session and there were important bills to be addressed in keeping with the CoI Reforms. Photo: YouTube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has expressed optimism that the United Kingdom will not activate the Order in Council that sits over the Virgin Islands following the Commission of Inquiry Report, but expressed disdain in the territory’s Premier and Minister of Finance for not giving Opposition legislators their due credit.

Hon Skelton was at the time leading a hurriedly called press conference with his colleagues on September 3, 2024, to address matters surrounding the move by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), which resulted in the Speaker of the House of Assembly Honourable Corine N. George-Massicote removing the No-Confidence Motion from the Order Paper.

Motion was brought @ right time- Hon Skelton

Many, including Premier Wheatley and government legislators, and members of the public, have criticised the Opposition for seeking to bring the motion ahead of Premier Wheatley's travel to the UK where he is expected to seek for the removal of the reserved Order in Council to suspend the VI Constitution.

Responding to a question put to him regarding the timing of the motion brought to the House of Assembly, Hon Skelton responded, “I think we brought the Motion of No-Confidence at the right time."

'It’s not all about getting the Order in Council lifted'

Seeking to justify his position, he said: “You saw the actions of the Premier today. In spite of all that we have done to accommodate to get to matters, CoI matters, approved in the House so they can go to the Governor for assent, we know that if he goes to London and he basically get them to lift the Order In Council then he will come back with his shoulders, chest push out, in spite all what’s happening in the country. It’s not all about getting the Order in Council lifted.”

It was at this stage that Hon Skelton expressed confidence that the UK will not activate the Order In Council.

"They did not suspend the constitution on the 31st of August and they are not going to suspend the Constitution.”

He stressed that it’s the Opposition working closely with the Government that will ultimately result in the constitution not being suspended.

The Opposition held the one hour and thirty-five-minute press conference even while the House of Assembly was in session and there were important bills to be addressed in keeping with the CoI Reforms.

18 Responses to “'We brought the Motion of No-Confidence at the right time'- Opposition Leader”

  • oh well (04/09/2024, 17:54) Like (30) Dislike (6) Reply
    Get up stand up , stand up for your rights. it took too long to be brought before the house .
  • Blind Man (04/09/2024, 18:18) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr Skelton the doesn't need the opposition to pass any legistlation they have the numbers
  • 2024 (04/09/2024, 18:26) Like (32) Dislike (5) Reply
    Ronnie is only the opposition leader because the PVIM have 3 members but Marlon should be the opposition because he been in the House Longer than Ronnie even Fraser should have been the Leader button line that group had the opportunity to form a Government but lost the opportunity because they all wanted to be Premier
    • @ 2024 (04/09/2024, 20:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You can say that Honourable Marlon Penn has been in the house for more consecutive terms than Honourable Ronnie Skelton, but Skelton has served more terms as this would be Skelton's fifth term as opposed to Penn's fourth. Not siding with either member, but facts is facts.
      • @@2024 (05/09/2024, 09:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        so the member for the third should be holding down opposition leader or premier(.just saying
  • Oh Well (04/09/2024, 18:49) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
    Self first
    Territory last
  • oh hell (04/09/2024, 19:24) Like (24) Dislike (38) Reply
    Ronnie, I lost all respect for you. That was the dumbest thing YOU, as opposition leader couldve done. It is quite obvious, YOU ARE NOT FOR COUNTRY!

    Work together, keep the unUnited KKkingdom off our backs. Your dumb bighead backside cant see they playing chess while you playing with barbie dolls! You played right into their ands. Sometimes the enemy of your enemy have to be your friend. but again, youre a bunch of @sse$ in a horse race, so I cant expect any better
    • hi (04/09/2024, 21:17) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
      You have a low IQ .You’re grammar is very bad ! Reading is fundamental ! Before you comment. Please learn how to spell and construct a proper sentence..
  • Cindy (04/09/2024, 19:57) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    Set of power hungry opposition all wanting to be premier
  • Anonymous (04/09/2024, 20:25) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Heard they trying to join back ndp and pvim let me see if bob the builder could work with arrested and charged
  • Tadow (04/09/2024, 20:48) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    All you politicians in the BVI are incompetent.
  • just come (04/09/2024, 21:54) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    NDP dependent that's where they learned to Walk out?
  • ANY TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME (04/09/2024, 23:40) Like (9) Dislike (10) Reply
    THE PREMIER AINT READY FOR THIS THING CALLED LEADERSHIP
  • : ( (05/09/2024, 06:36) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Stop glorifying your title of "opposition" and "premiership" you two & your groups are on the same level, the level of black people that must be kept in a confusion, stifled and dependent on the former slave master.

    Sorry but we had foolishness going on where people wear powdered wigs and now look the same ROYAL police end up charging that roleplayer. We will never be english, stop trying to suck up & letting these fancy titles OBE, Premiership, Opposition... stop letting them place a fancy name on you to act like they own you again & divide you from your people. The name they used to use was NEGRO, SLAVE.

    Get to having one mind
  • LOL (05/09/2024, 08:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    He said they stopped asking questions. Democracy out the window
  • Stealth (05/09/2024, 08:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Opposition has the right to call a vote of no confidence. The public is asking why now. Snakes fo what snakes do. Scorpions do what scorpions do. Politicians do what politicians. The opposition is not in the business of making government look good. They will not hold hands and sing kumbaya with government, for the opposition want to trade places with government.. Let’s clear something up. The HoA does not have a policy requiring a supermajority to pass legislation. Only a simple majority is needed. When a government is formed under the Westminister, it requires at least a simple majority to do so. Therefore, it can pass bills without the opposition help, if collective responsibility is intact. Of course , it should work to get opposition buy in. The Opposition has been seething since April 26, 2023. The Opposition had the number of seats to form the government after the April 25, 2023, general election but the opportunity quickly vanished with the jumping ship of one member.. The UK has the power to lift the order in council when it wants to, not due to any pleading by the Premier and VI government. The UK will probably lift the order when its aim is attained, ie, when its force actions are accomplished. It has unilateral power. The UN or other agencies cannot force it to do anything. All they can do is to try and persuade it to act. If the VI don’t like being controlled by the UK, do something. If we don’t want to do anything, we should chill and get on with our lives.
  • Observer (05/09/2024, 08:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP fell apart after Miss P said she don’t want an island man to be premier. Now ball head is with the opposition. I always ask myself how he feels to be among those who didn’t want him to be premier.
    All 13 of you should be fighting for country and not for yourself to be in power. Please unite for a better Tortola.
    • Who's Miss P (05/09/2024, 11:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who are you referring to? The same Miss P who once told Andrew boy get the f word from Infront me???


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