Late Friday evening, Premier the Honourable Natalio Wheatley made a statement following the damning COI report given by Governor John Rankin. During the statement, he announced a joint press conference with himself and the Leader of the Opposition the  Honourable Ronnie Skelton, to be held today Monday 8 January. 

Our news room can confirm that the BVI Press received an invitation on Sunday afternoon just after 2:00pm to a press conference to be held at the Premier’s conference room today Monday 8 January. The information in the press advisory confirms the participation of the Premier and Leader of the Opposition. 

However, in what appears to be an interview with Zan Lewis of ZBVI Radio late Sunday evening, Ronnie Skelton, Leader of the Opposition is heard confirming that he will not be in attendance at the Press Conference, and has announced a Press Conference to be held by the Opposition on Tuesday 9 January at 3:00pm. 

The statement by the Opposition Leader confirms an initial agreement to indeed hold a joint press conference with the Premier, however, reconsidered the position after much thought and consultation he said. The Leader of the Opposition went on to say that he ‘did not want their (Opposition) position on constitutional advancement muddled with the Premier’s inability to complete the COI reform.’

Best Decision For Opposition?

During the Premier’s brief statement on Friday afternoon, he sought to create a narrative of division amongst residents of the Territory following the Governor’s position on seeking additional powers due to his Government’s inability to move the COI reforms forward. 

Our news room has also received a number of calls from residents following Friday’s statement by the Premier. The residents had apparently received messages and calls from the Premier seeking to recruit persons to join what they described as a movement to divide and destabilise the Territory. Persons speaking with our newsroom have said they considered the calls and messages to be hate filled and race driven, with the Premier allegedly using terms such as ‘white people.’ Most have noted their desire not to be a part of such agendas, and expressed deep disappointment in the Premier as a Leader. 

On Friday 5 January, the Governor issued a final quarterly report on the implementation of the COI Recommendations. In the report, he suggested additional powers for the Governor’s Office given the Wheatley lead Government’s inability to complete the recommendations after many broken deadlines.