Dr Wheatley alluded to a recent report in the media which claimed that he slept on the floor of the airport in Antigua and argued that such reckless information was being peddled for malicious reasons.

The allegations ignited a mini-firestorm of controversy in the territory and forced the Premier to forcefully dispute the claims multiple times in recent days after the claims began circulating.

“Lots of arrows [are] being pointed in my direction and I think it’s a sad thing that it takes place. Most of it is because of politics,” the Premier said in the House of Assembly on Thursday.

Premier Wheatley said he was saddened to see how politics causes persons to seek to tear down and destroy each other.

“I have persons who – they even go as far as taking my father’s unfortunate circumstances to try to use it against me politically,” the Premier stated. “I mean that’s how low they stoop, just for politics.”

After surviving some of the worst and most difficult times in recent years through what he described as love and neighbourliness, Dr Wheatley said persons are now at each other’s throats, simply for the sake of power.

“I just think we’re better than that as a community. And of course, we’re in the political season, and you’ll hear all types of things in the political season – just for the sake of power,” the Premier said.

Dr Wheatley made a plea for decorum and urged persons to keep their heads on during the political season.

“Don’t get caught up in the madness,” Premier Wheatley urged. “Because when the political season is over, we will still have to live with each other, and survive with each other.”

Dr Wheatley is expected to contest the post of Chairman of the VIP when the party meets this Sunday to elect office bearers ahead of the expected general elections that are due by mid-May.