Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Oct 18, 2025

Late Premier described as true statesman, legend

Late Premier described as true statesman, legend

A legend, a true statesman, a strong and principled politician were some of the words used to describe the late former Premier, Honourable Ralph T O’Neal, OBE.

The former Premier passed away at about 2 pm at his McNamara residence on Tortola in the presence of family members on Monday, November 11.

Legislators from either side of the political divide have public paused to salute the British Virgin Islands’ longest-serving elected representative.

“A giant tree has fallen in the Virgin Islands forest. A man who can only be described as a legend. I count myself as very fortunate to even have had a conversation with this great man. As a leader, he had a steady hand on the tiller, navigating many treacherous waters during his tenure,” government legislator Vincent Wheatley said in a tribute on social media.


Rest easy, great leader!

He further said the former Premier has left “a strong legacy” for present and future politicians to uphold.

“Rest easy, great leader! You have run your leg of the race well. Now rest in the comforting arms of the Creator! God speed,” Wheatley added.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Premier Andrew Fahie and Opposition leader Marlon Penn.

“My heart is extremely heavy after shortly receiving news,” Penn said in a social media tribute. “A true statesman who served his people of the Ninth District and wider Virgin Islands with honour and distinction for over four decades. I remember him as a man with a great sense of humour, extremely knowledgeable and a great sense of love and patriotism towards these Virgin Islands and its people.”


Honour to have served together

Penn said he felt it an honour and privilege to have served with him in the House.

“He was someone always eager to share his knowledge and always did what was in the best interest of these Virgin Islands and its people, despite what direction the political winds were blowing,” he remarked.

The H Lavity Stoutt Community College also extended condolences to the late legislator.

“We remember Mr O’Neal as a great statesman, as well as the college’s staunchest champions in its three decades of existence. We join with the rest of the community in remembering this great son of the soil while offering comfort and solace to his loved ones.”

While also expressing sadness and condolences at O’Neal’s passing, Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock said he will be meeting with the O’Neal family in the coming days to prepare the House of Assembly for O’Neal’s official funeral.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
China’s lesson for the US: it takes more than chips to win the AI race
Australia Faces Demographic Risk as Fertility Falls to Record Low
California County Reinstates Mask Mandate in Health Facilities as Respiratory Illness Risk Rises
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump-Brokered Gaza Truce, Hostages to Be Freed
French Political Turmoil Elevates Marine Le Pen as Rassemblement National Poised for Power
China Unveils Sweeping Rare Earth Export Controls to Shield ‘National Security’
The Davos Set in Decline: Why the World Economic Forum’s Power Must Be Challenged
France: Less Than a Month After His Appointment, the New French Prime Minister Resigns
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary will not adopt the euro because the European Union is falling apart.
Sarah Mullally Becomes First Woman Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
×