Past political experiences prepared me to be Premier

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has disclosed that his previous political failings early in his political career before gaining office in 2019 have given him the relevant experience to tackle his current post as Premier of the Virgin Islands.

Dr Wheatley said he was recruited to the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) from the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) after the political drubbing at the hands of the National Democratic Party in 2015. At that time, they were in a rebuild with only two candidates in the House of Assembly – Andrew Fahie and Julian Fraser.

The Premier said he became the president of the VIP and in 2019, he ran as a candidate for District Seven and was finally successful.

“I think people were looking for a change at that particular time and people saw me as representing a change and they supported me,” Dr Wheatley said.

The arrest of former Premier Fahie at the end of April meant Dr Wheatley had to assume the role of Premier and it is something he said his experiences have prepared him for.

“The unfortunate events of the last few weeks have propelled me into the Premier seat. It is something I have prepared for. All my life, I really wanted the opportunity to help people and God has given me certain gifts that I believe I can use to lead the people at this particular time,” Dr Wheatley said.