VI people must wake up to rethink relationship with UK- Premier Wheatley - calls on citizens to demand a new type of relationship where UK cannot suspend local constitution

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called on the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) to unite, stop the infighting, and send a strong message to the United Kingdom (UK) that it does not want a relationship where the UK can suspend the local constitution.

This comes as the Premier has been vocal about the powers of the UK to even suspend the constitution of another territory, which he says goes against democracy.

“I don't agree with it in any way, shape or form. I do not agree with the United Kingdom or any other government suspending another group's constitution, it's fundamentally undemocratic,” Dr Wheatley outlined on an October 6, 2022, press conference.

No imposition of Democracy - Premier Wheatley

“You can't impose democracy on someone, even if you suspend the Constitution, the people still have to live here, and we still have to deal with our own affairs,” he said.

Premier Wheatley added that from his perspective, the concept of suspending a constitution is a flawed one that the United Kingdom should abandon.

Premier Wheatley, since taking the helm of the Government of National Unity, has been on a mission to prevent the suspension of the local constitution.