ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – November 13, 2026 - A father has publicly exposed private WhatsApp communications between an adult male and his 13-year-old daughter, raising serious concerns about the man’s conduct towards a minor and prompting wider questions about access to children, public trust and the responsibilities of individuals seeking positions of influence.
The man has been identified as Lawrence ‘Bunchie’ Wheatley, a political hopeful who was reportedly hoping to contest the upcoming 2027 General Election as an At-Large candidate on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) slate.
Screenshots released by the child’s father show an exchange in which Wheatley asks the child how old she is. After she responds that she is 13, the conversation continues.
In one message, Wheatley reportedly tells the child that he wanted to talk to her but that the conversation had to remain between them.
He subsequently tells her: “You’re pretty and I like you tbh.”
The messages also show him telling the child that he wanted to make her happy after seeing her sad at school.
At one point, the child tells him directly that she does not want to talk. He responds, “Ok.”
The request for secrecy, followed by the expression of personal attraction after the child’s age had been disclosed, is among the most concerning aspects of the exchanges.
FATHER CONFRONTS POLITICAL HOPEFUL
In a strongly worded public statement accompanying the screenshots, the father expressed anger and disappointment, questioning the character of someone who, he says, seeks to present himself as noble and honourable while pursuing political office.
GBM has independently verified the father’s account of confronting Wheatley.
According to the father, Wheatley acknowledged the conduct during their confrontation and indicated that he had left the child alone.
The father said he restrained himself from physically confronting the man because he did not want his actions to undermine the trust his daughter had placed in him.
In his statement, the father wrote:
“So this is the kind of characters living amongst us who try to act so noble and honorable. The kind of character that wants to run for election? This is what you’re about? It took everything in me not to squash you like the cocker roach that you are when I confronted you and you admitted it talking about you left her alone. You shouldn’t have asked her for her number to begin with freak. But those actions on my part would only break my daughter’s trust in me when it’s the people’s trust in you that should be broken. This is your actions being exposed. And stay the hell out of my way going forward cause you only get one pass my guy.”
The father’s statement raises a fundamental question about the responsibility adults have to protect children and the standards expected of those who seek the confidence and trust of the public.
SCHOOL ACCESS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
GBM understands that Wheatley has frequented the Claudia Creque Educational Centre on Anegada over recent months, where he engaged students through lectures and presentations and, from time to time, brought goodies and other items to the school.
These activities placed him in a position of interaction with young students within an educational environment.
GBM further understands that Wheatley’s wife is a teacher at the school and teaches the child involved in the reported exchange.
That connection adds another sensitive dimension to the circumstances surrounding the matter, particularly the importance of maintaining appropriate adult-child boundaries and safeguarding children within trusted environments.
The issue is not whether adults should participate in school activities, support students or contribute to educational development. Such involvement can be valuable to communities.
Rather, the concern is the responsibility that comes with access to children and the trust that schools, parents and communities place in adults who interact with them.
A school must remain a safe environment where children can learn, develop and participate without being exposed to inappropriate personal attention or communications.
POWER, ACCESS AND PUBLIC TRUST
The revelations have also brought renewed attention to the relationship between public influence and personal responsibility.
Wheatley was reportedly hoping to secure a place on the VIP slate as an At-Large candidate in the upcoming general election. An At-Large representative would be elected to serve the Territory as a whole, carrying responsibilities that extend beyond any one community.
Seeking public office brings with it public scrutiny. Political ambition, popularity, community involvement and the ability to connect with people do not place anyone above questions about their conduct.
Indeed, the greater the access and influence an individual holds, the greater the responsibility to exercise that influence appropriately.
The concern about power being placed in the wrong hands is particularly relevant when considering individuals who have access to children through schools, community activities and other positions of trust.
Power is not simply about holding public office. It can also come through influence, reputation, access and the confidence others place in an individual.
That confidence must never be used inappropriately.
SEX OFFENDERS REGISTRY: LEGISLATION AND CHILD PROTECTION
The incident comes at a time when the Virgin Islands is again discussing the need for stronger legislative safeguards to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
The proposed establishment of a Sex Offenders Registry has been the subject of renewed discussion in the House of Assembly, with At-Large Representative Stacy Mather recently calling for the necessary legislation to be advanced.
In October 2026, Mather publicly called for the legislation to move forward, emphasising that a registry should provide a proper legal framework for monitoring persons convicted of qualifying sexual offences.
He also highlighted the need for reporting requirements, consequences for non-compliance and provisions addressing convicted sexual offenders who enter or return to the Territory.
The Government has undertaken public consultation on the proposed Sexual Offences Bill, 2025, and the 2026 Speech from the Throne identifies the advancement of updated sexual offences legislation as part of the Government’s legislative agenda.
The proposed reforms include stronger provisions addressing sexual offences involving children, sexual communications with children and abuse of positions of trust.
The distinction is important: a registry is intended to monitor qualifying convicted offenders through a legal framework. It is not a mechanism for treating allegations as convictions.
Nevertheless, the present circumstances underscore why legislation, effective safeguarding procedures, appropriate reporting mechanisms and public awareness must work together.
Protecting children cannot be left solely to parents discovering inappropriate communications after they have occurred.
Schools, community organisations, families and law enforcement all have important roles to play.
PUBLIC REACTION, IDEAS FESTIVAL AND RIGHT OF RESPONSE
The revelations have left many across the Territory shocked, with questions being raised about the standards of conduct expected of individuals seeking public office and the protection of children within the community.
The matter also comes as Wheatley was scheduled to participate as a speaker at the 2026 BVI Ideas Festival, which is scheduled to take place early next week.
However, GBM observed that by press time, the festival’s website no longer contained any reference to Wheatley’s participation or scheduled appearance.
It remains unclear whether his participation has been withdrawn, whether the organisers have made changes to the programme, or whether the removal is connected to the allegations now circulating publicly.
GBM will seek clarification from the festival organisers.
GBM has made contact with the child’s family ahead of publishing this report.
GBM has also reached out to Lawrence ‘Bunchie’ Wheatley for comment on the allegations and the contents of the screenshots. However, no response had been received from Wheatley up to press time.
Should a response be forthcoming, GBM remains willing to publish his position.
The screenshots and the father’s account raise serious safeguarding concerns. However, they do not, on their own, establish that a criminal offence has occurred. Any determination of criminal wrongdoing rests with the appropriate authorities.
GBM believes that the protection of children must transcend political affiliations, public image and personal ambition.
The Territory must be able to have open conversations about the people who are given access to its children, the trust placed in individuals within our institutions and the standards expected of those seeking public responsibility.
Political aspirations should never place anyone beyond accountability.
POWER IS A RESPONSIBILITY, NOT A PRIVILEGE. ACCESS TO OUR CHILDREN IS A TRUST, NOT AN ENTITLEMENT.
And when that trust is called into question, the concerns deserve to be taken seriously.