Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Feb 18, 2025

‘I gave up the Ministry to allow Unity Gov’t to function’– Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

‘I gave up the Ministry to allow Unity Gov’t to function’– Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

Ninth District Representative and former Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley has indicated, contrary to speculations, he voluntarily gave up his position as Minister to allow the Unity Government to form in May 2022.

Hon Wheatley was at the time a guest on the VIP Let's Talk radio show, along with Deputy Premier Hon Kye M. Rymer, and Hon Carvin Malone aired on March 21, 2023, on ZBVI 780 AM, while lamenting on projects he wished he could have completed before giving up the ministry to allow Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) of Progressives Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) to get a cabinet portfolio.

Governor John J. Rankin, CMG said on April 19, 2023, he is looking forward to working with whichever Government is formed after the General Election to help further ensure the good governance of the VI.



Ministry voluntarily given up - Hon Wheatley

“I gave up the Ministry to allow the unity government to function because I didn’t want to create any confusion about who's going to have what Ministry. I said I'll remove myself to avoid anybody trying to say because of me, we couldn’t form a unity government,” he added.

On May 4, 2022, the Government and Opposition announced a coalition government with the hope of staving off UK direct, which was the overarching recommendation following a Commission of Inquiry. However, when the Unity Government was formed, there were speculations in some circles that Governor John J. Rankin, CMG wanted Hon Wheatley and then Minister for Health and Social Development Carvin Malone out of office.

This, however, was proven false when Mr Rankin indicated that he had no say in who made up the members of the Unity Government or Cabinet.

Some candidates on the campaign trail have; however, been engaged in fearmongering, including maliciously claiming that the United Kingdom (UK) doesn’t want the VIP in office.
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley was at the time a guest on VIP Let's Talk, along with Deputy Premier Hon Kye M. Rymer, and Hon Carvin Malone on March 21, 2023.



Governor commits to working with any elected Gov't

Meanwhile, Gov Rankin has affirmed his commitment to working with any Government elected by the people of the VI.

“I look forward to working with whichever Government is formed after the General Election to help further ensure the good governance of the BVI,” Governor Rankin disclosed in his statement on the Audit Report on Fast Track Programme B34 on April 19, 2023.

Hon Wheatley further added that part of the reason he give up the ministry was, “I think at times like this you must put country above self and that's why I remove myself from the ministry at a point in time… the one thing I really wished I had gotten done and completed before I give up the ministry, was the land distribution programme.”

Hon Wheatley detailed that one project he said he wished he was about to complete before giving up his ministry was the local land distribution project, which he still remains passionate about.

At Large Representative and former Health Minister Hon Carvin Malone of the VIP also indicated nn the past that he gave up his Cabinet position for the Unity Government to be formed.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pope Francis Continues to be Hospitalized While Physicians Treat Complicated Infection
Meta Workers Voice Concerns Over Layoff Procedures Despite Company's Assertions of Performance-Driven Reductions
Iran Considers Moving Capital Due to Urban Difficulties
Elon Musk claims that millions of Americans aged between 100 and 159 are recorded in a vital US database.
Trump's Appearances in the Oval Office Reinterpret Presidential Communication
Starmer Calls for US 'Backstop' for Ukraine Peace Deal After European Leaders' Meeting
Scotland Initiates Early Release of Prisoners to Address Overcrowding
The Princess of Wales and Children Share Artistic Portraits
Policy on Refugee Citizenship Draws Criticism from Unions and Faith Leaders
Fibrus Broadband Service Faces Ongoing Challenges After Storm Éowyn
Caldicot School Enforces Strict Discipline Under New Leadership
Supreme Court Blocks Treasury Intervention in Car Loans Case
Bafta 2025: Conclave and The Brutalist Stand Out at the Awards Ceremony
Almost Two Billion Dollars of taxpayer funds are recovered by the DOGE Task Force after going unaccounted for during the Biden administration.
No, you corrupt European leaders—the Nazi genocide apparatus did NOT come about due to free speech.
U.S. State Department Removes Taiwan Independence Statement from Website
Eliminating opposition will not rescue Germany from Nazism—this is precisely what led Germany to become Nazi!
Transatlantic Gold Rush: Traders Shift Bullion in Response to Tariff Concerns and Market Turmoil
Elon Musk advocates for thorough and regular audits of US gold reserves as new proposals confront long-standing review methods.
Bill Ackman Invests in Uber as the Company Shifts Towards Profitability.
AI Giants Take on Nvidia's Supremacy with New Chip Innovations
US and Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia Over Ending Ukraine Conflict. Ukraine and European leaders – who profit from this war – excluded from the negotiations.
Macron Convenes Urgent Summit as Business Model Amid Ukraine Conflict Faces Threat
Trump Administration Eases AI Restrictions Amid Scarlett Johansson’s Regulatory Demands
Trump’s Defense Secretary: Ukraine Won’t Join NATO or Regain Lost Territories
European Leaders Hold Urgent Summit on Ukraine in Light of US-Russia Peace Negotiations
Flight Reductions at Ronaldsway Airport Attributed to Demand Changes
JD Vance's Claims on Scottish Abortion Buffer Zones Elicit Controversy
Dogs Audition for Role in Glasgow Comedy Play Amidst Festival Celebrations
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves Faces Scrutiny Over Expenses and CV Claims
Investigation Launched Following Fatal Shooting Outside Kent Pub
UK Ticket-Holder Wins £65 Million EuroMillions Jackpot on Valentine's Day
UK Military Insufficiently Resourced for Potential Ukraine Peacekeeping Mission, Former Army Chief Warns
Netflix Relocates Bafta Afterparty Following Fire at Chiltern Firehouse
Scottish A&E Waiting Times Reach Record Highs, Urging Call for Systemic Reforms
British Couple Detained in Iran as Family Seeks Safe Return
Zelensky Urges Increased Military Expansion in Europe as US Support Remains Uncertain
AI-Driven Virtual Boyfriends Rise in Popularity in China
Chinese Zoo Confesses to Painting Donkeys to Look Like Zebras
Zelensky Highlights the Importance of European Participation in Peace Negotiations at the Munich Security Conference.
Zelensky Prevents Trump-Backed Minerals Agreement Due to Security Issues
Trump's Legal Issues and Claim of Executive Power
Leaders of BRICS Set to Gather in Rio de Janeiro for July Summit
The Archewell Foundation Donates $600,000 to Support Democratic Initiatives Amidst Political Disputes.
U.S. Administration Begins Dialogue with Russia and Ukraine to Tackle Ongoing Conflict
Muhsin Hendricks, a trailblazing openly gay imam, was fatally shot in South Africa.
Elon Musk is Sherlock Holmes - Movie Trailer Parody featuring Donald Trump's Detective
Trump's Greenland Suggestion Sparks Sovereignty Discussion Amidst Historical Resentments
California's CalExit Movement Gathers Momentum Amid Ongoing Political and Economic Discussions in the State.
USAID Revealed: American Tax Dollars Utilized to Erode Democracy in Europe Until Trump Put a Stop to It
×