Hon. O’Neal OBE was high in praise for his wife, Mrs Edris O’Neal during his retirement speech yesterday. Photo: VINO/File

Commentator Douglas Wheatley praised the role played by first ladies in the Virgin Islands following the announcement of Opposition Leader Ralph T. O’Neal’s retirement from the political landscape yesterday, May 27, 2014. Photo: VINO/File

Families contribute a lot to the success of politicians and this is one of the reasons it was important to acknowledge the contributions of the wives, Wheatley said on the Speak Out BVI radio programme. 

The commentator recalled that he has been advocating over the years to have a recognition ceremony for the wives of the Territory’s leaders and noted that Hon. O’Neal OBE was high in praise for his wife, Mrs Edris O’Neal during his retirement speech yesterday. 

He also related that one of the ways his mother, Dorothy Wheatley, had contributed was by helping his father, former Chief Minister Hon. Willard Wheatley focus on some of the important things he needed to. 

Wheatley said that the roles of the wives were not only important in helping their husbands to accomplish things but were important to the Territory as well. 

He commended Hon. O’Neal for his long service to the Territory and praised him for the institutional memory that he offered during his service in the House of Assembly. “His presence in the House of Assembly will be missed,” he added.